Liverpool celebrate Divock Origi's second goal in the Champions League v Barcelona
Liverpool celebrate Divock Origi's second goal in the Champions League v Barcelona

WATCH: Liverpool in astonishing comeback v Barcelona to reach Champions League final


Istanbul will always be the benchmark when it comes to Liverpool comebacks in Europe but the 4-0 dismantling of Barcelona at Anfield will run it close as Jurgen Klopp's side reached successive Champions League finals.

After the LaLiga champions won 3-0 at Camp Nou, and with Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino absent, few gave them hope of coming completing the comeback.

The Reds put on a show to create another memorable European result at Anfield. Two goals apiece from Divock Origi and game-changing half-time substitute Georginio Wijnaldum saw them progress 4-3 on aggregate.

Reaction to Reds' shock triumph

Jose: It's all about Jurgen

Divock Origi: The Liverpool forward opens the scoring with an early goal against Barcelona

Georginio Wijnaldum: The Dutch midfielder celebrates after scoring his second goal against Barcelona

In a truly remarkable - and intense - game not only did Liverpool erase that disadvantage inside 56 minutes, they went on to score a winner and, remarkably, kept Lionel Messi quiet as the visitors failed to grab a vital away goal.

For only the fourth time in the competition's history a team was eliminated from a knockout tie having won the first leg by three or more goals, the last occasion being Barca against Roma in last season's quarter-final.

Origi's timing in scoring his first Champions League goals was impeccable, as was Wijnaldum's introduction for injured defender Andy Robertson.

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Opta facts

  • Liverpool have reached their ninth European Cup/Champions League final – only Real Madrid (16), Milan (11) and Bayern Munich (10) have reached more.
  • Liverpool are the first English side to reach back-to-back Champions League finals since Manchester United (2008 and 2009).
  • This was just the fourth time a team has overturned a 3+ goal deficit from the first leg of a Champions League knockout tie to progress. Barcelona were also on the receiving end the last time (last season vs Roma).
  • Barcelona have now been eliminated from three of their last four Champions League semi-final ties.
  • Barcelona suffered their heaviest ever defeat against an English side in all European competitions.
  • Full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has provided 14 assists in all competitions this season, more than any other Liverpool player.
  • Divock Origi scored his first Champions League goals, and in doing so became the 50th different player to score in the competition for Liverpool (excluding own goals).
  • There were 122 seconds between Georginio Wijnaldum’s two Liverpool goals, his first brace in all competitions for Liverpool.
  • Georginio Wijnaldum is the first Liverpool player to score twice from the bench in a Champions League game since Ryan Babel vs Besiktas in 2007. He’s also the first sub to score twice in a single game against Barcelona in the competition.
  • Lionel Messi either attempted (5) or created (3) all eight of Barcelona’s shots against Liverpool in this match.