Doubles from Divock Origi and substitute Georginio Wijnaldum fired Liverpoolinto their second consecutive Champions League final as Barcelona collapsed to an improbable 4-0 humiliation at Anfield.
Facing a daunting 3-0 deficit after last week’s first leg, Origi made light of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino’s absence from the Liverpool forward line by poaching a seventh-minute opener on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp’s side kept the contest at a pace frenetic enough that Barcelona were rarely allowed to settle and Wijnaldum’s quickfire brace before the hour had the locals in raptures.
It was a night for unlikely heroes and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner allowed Origi to smash high into the net 11 minutes from time – inflicting a humbling upon LaLiga champions Barca and the great Lionel Messi even more punishing than their surrender at Roma in last season’s quarter-final.
The remarkable 4-3 aggregate triumph means a June 1 final against Ajax or Tottenham – and the chance to right the wrongs of last season’s fall to Real Madrid at the last hurdle – awaits.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 7, 2019
Alisson saved sharply from Messi and Philippe Coutinho as Barca began to click into gear, with Ter Stegen’s 24th-minute stop from Andy Robertson of a more unorthodox variety.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper intervened crucially in first-half stoppage time to deny Jordi Alba after Messi sliced the hosts open on the break.
Unlikely hero Wijnaldum entered the fray in place of the injured Robertson at half-time and Liverpool resumed on the front foot, Ter Stegen repelling Virgil van Dijk’s instinctive backheel volley from Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
Alisson was also back into his work as Suarez sprung the Reds’ offside trap – a stop that looked even more vital when Wijnaldum drove Alexander-Arnold’s next delivery from open play through Ter Stegen’s grasp.
Barcelona were rocking, with memories of Rome – where they crashed out after holding a 4-1 first-leg lead – flooding back as Wijnaldum rose highest to emphatically convert Shaqiri’s 56th-minute centre.
Where Barca minds were muddled, Alexander-Arnold’s was razor sharp and Origi pounced to leave Messi and his team-mates battered, bruised and beaten.
