Villarreal vs Liverpool LIVE: Champions League result and final score after Luis Diaz turns semi-final around
Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 5-2 on aggregate): Follow for live reaction from a thrilling night in the Champions League as the Reds progressed to the final
Follow live reaction as Liverpool progressed to the Champions League final after seeing off a thrilling comeback from Villarreal thanks to second-half goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane.
The noise in El Madrigal before kick-off ensured it would be an intimidating atmosphere for Liverpool, who led 2-0 after last week’s first leg at Anfield, and an early goal from Boulaye Dia inside three minutes gave Villarreal a perfect start.
Liverpool were sloppy in what was their poorest first half of the season and when Francis Coquelin’s header levelled the tie shortly before the break it was no less than Villarreal deserved.
But it was all change after half-time, with Diaz making an impact from the bench. Fabinho fired between goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli’s legs to put the Reds ahead once again, before Diaz scored a header from close range to restore Liverpool’s two-goal lead.
Mane confirmed the win as he went round the goalkeeper to score Liverpool’s third goal in 12 minutes, which keeps Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
Liverpool will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the Paris final on May 28. Relive the action from a dramatic Champions League semi-final below.
Half-time: Villarreal 2 - 0 Liverpool (2-2 agg)
45+2 mins: That’s been a perfect first 45 minutes for Villarreal. They had a seemingly mammoth task to overturn the two-goal deficit but came out and dominated from the get go.
Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin have brought them level in the tie and Liverpool have yet to respond. Everything to play for in the second half.
Villarreal 2 - 0 Liverpool (2-2 agg)
45 mins: Two minutes of added time to play in the first half.
Villarreal 2 - 0 Liverpool (2-2 agg)
43 mins: Liverpool need to get to half-time. They’re still in this tie but they need to improve massively. The momentum is all with Villarreal who have been several classes above the Reds in this half.
GOAL! Villarreal 2 - 0 Liverpool (2-2 agg) - Coquelin, 41'⚽️
41 mins: Villarreal are level! A long ball from the home side comes over to Etienne Capoue on the right side. He turns inside of Andy Robertson and floats a cross into the box. Trent Alexander-Arnold is stuck on his heels and Francis Coquelin squeezes in front of him to head it home! It’s now 2-2 on aggregate and Liverpool are on the ropes.
Villarreal 1 - 0 Liverpool (1-2 agg)
39 mins: The replays show that Alisson did get down to the ball first and then Lo Celso ran into him. It’s a brilliant decision from the referee who’s having a good night so far.
Liverpool on the other hand continue to struggle. Jurgen Klopp will not be happy at all. It’s a performance that brings to mind their match at Anfield versus Inter Milan.
They went on to lose that one.
Villarreal 1 - 0 Liverpool (1-2 agg)
36 mins: Huge penalty shout! Naby Keita passes the ball back to his own defence but sends it straight to Gerard Moreno. He spins and slides it into the box for Giovani Lo Celso. Alisson comes flying off his line then stops before diving towards the ball. Lo Celso attempts to shift it around the keeper but collides with Alisson and the entire stadium erupts shouting for a penalty that doesn’t come!
Big decision from the referee who says that Alisson won the ball.
Villarreal 1 - 0 Liverpool (1-2 agg)
33 mins: Liverpool are being outplayed here. The players look very nervous and they can’t keep hold of the ball. Everytime it comes into the penalty area Liverpool’s focus is to clear it and more often than not Villarreal recover possession from the clearance.
Villarreal 1 - 0 Liverpool (1-2 agg)
30 mins: Coquelin fouls Salah over on Liverpool’s right wing. Alexander-Arnold swings the set piece into the penalty area. Van Dijk and Konate are up for Liverpool but the cross comes deep to Mane whose cutback can’t pick out a teammate and the home side work it clear.
Villarreal 1 - 0 Liverpool (1-2 agg)
27 mins: Villarreal are closing down the ball brilliantly in the middle of the pitch and forcing Liverpool to play the ball quickly stopping them from having any time in possession. Fabinho threads a pass up to Sadio Mane who gets brought down by Raul Albiol.
Villarreal 1 - 0 Liverpool (1-2 agg)
24 mins: Salah spins off the shoulder of Estupinan and is fed the ball on the right side. Liverpool sweep forward and Salah squares it over to Diogo Jota. His first touch isn’t great as the ball runs away from him into the box. Geronimo Rulli comes flying off his line to close Jota down but it’s a back-tracking Raul Albiol who gets there first. The ball bounces off the goalkeeper and he scrambles over the turf to get his hand to it. Salah nicks it off him and pulls a shot wide of the far post before the referee blows for a foul.
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