Yet again, Anfield delivered. Against all the odds, Liverpool trashed Barcelona’s three-goal Champions League semi-final lead without two of their leading strikers.
When Jurgen Klopp took over as Liverpool manager in October 2015, he spoke of turning doubters into believers. Yet did he really, really think Liverpool could win this semi-final? Speaking on the eve of the match, he tasked his players with ‘failing gloriously’.
Klopp sent Liverpool out to achieve the impossible. Yet step by step, the tie was turned upside down. When did Liverpool truly start to believe, not that they could win, but that they would?
Sportsmail reflects on the turning points of possibly the most gripping night in Liverpool’s fabled history.
Jurgen Klopp leads the celebrations after Liverpool defeated Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield
1st minute: Robertson and Messi clash, Liverpool 0-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-0 on aggregate)
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson lays down a marker inside the first 60 seconds for how he is going to burst forward and link midfield to attack. A mazy jinx into Barcelona’s penalty area from Sadio Mane nearly ends with Henderson charging in at the back post, only for Jordi Alba to get a toe to the ball and divert it out for a corner.
But before it is taken, referee Cuneyt Cakir has to deal with a clash between Lionel Messi and Andy Robertson on the halfway line. The full-back appeared to slap Messi on the head after tackling him in the opening seconds of the game. The Barcelona talisman is riled.
As Cakir calms the pair down, Robertson’s name reverberates around Anfield.
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson pushed Lionel Messi in the head early on
7th minute: Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona, Divock Origi (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
Joel Matip strides out of defence and looks to loft the ball diagonally across to Mane but he scoops it a bit too high in the air. Alba anticipates, back-peddles but can’t get his balance together to head the ball safely to a team-mate.
Mane gambles, cuts out the ball and finds Henderson who is once again rampaging forward. He cuts across Gerard Pique and shoots, Marc-Andre ter Stegen parries but Divock Origi is there to prod home.
Anfield explodes. Henderson catches the ball as it rebounds out of the net and storms back up to the halfway line, cajoling every corner of the stadium on his way.
Divock Origi converts from close range to give Liverpool an early lead against Barcelona
Jordan Henderson races back to the halfway line after Liverpool go ahead early on
15th minute: Alisson denies Messi, Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
First real sign of return fire from the visitors. An interchange from Arturo Vidal and Alba results with a cutback to Messi on the edge of the area, but Alisson tips over with a strong hand.
19th minute: Coutinho misses, Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
Barcelona really look to be clicking into gear. Moments after Virgil van Dijk steals the ball off of the toes of Messi in the penalty area, they come again as Messi and Luis Suarez combine to find Philippe Coutinho, whose sweeping right-footed strike is turned away again by Alisson. A few signs Liverpool might be starting to wilt.
Alisson turns a shot from Lionel Messi over the crossbar as Barcelona look to hit back
31st minute: Henderson down, Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
Klopp is muttering under his breath on the sidelines. Henderson looks in real discomfort, down and clutching his left knee after a tangle with Clement Lenglet.
Georginio Wijnaldum is warming up, Joe Gomez even throws him his shirt but after a fairly lengthy stoppage, Henderson is able to continue.
Wijnaldum’s time will come later.
There were concerns for Liverpool as Henderson was hurt, but he continued after treatment
Andy Robertson was less fortunate, going off at half-time after a tangle with Luis Suarez
Suarez was accused of aiming a kick towards Robertson as he ran past the left back
40th minute: Robertson injured, Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
Another concern for Klopp as Liverpool’s marauding left back hits the turf after a few minutes of hobbling around the pitch. Replays show a couple of moments earlier, Suarez appeared to almost back-kick Robertson off the ball as they both ran and followed play.
But the Liverpool physio gives the thumbs up signal to the bench and Robertson makes half-time
HT: Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
Four added minutes pass with Barcelona having the better chance to score. They counter from a Liverpool corner and the move ends with Alisson racing off his line to stifle an opening for Alba in the penalty area.
The interval feels like it comes at a good time for the hosts but will they regret failing to turn the screw when they were in the ascendancy?
46: Wijnaldum replaces Robertson, Liverpool 1-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-1 on aggregate)
Robertson hasn’t made it out for the second half, so a little shake-up for Klopp. Wijnaldum moves into midfield and James Milner slots in at left back. Liverpool are shooting towards the Kop now.
54: Goal – Wijnaldum, Liverpool 2-0 Barcelona (Barcelona lead 3-2 on aggregate)
Trent Alexander-Arnold does magnificently, responding to his own misplaced header by tackling Alba, driving forward and his cross is deflected into the path of Wijnaldum, who low shot squirms under Ter Stegen to ignite chaos everywhere around Anfield once again.
As soon as the Barcelona goalkeeper realises he has conceded, Wijnaldum is at him trying to grab hold of the ball and return to the halfway line. Barcelona are creaking.
Georginio Wijnaldum, Robertson’s replacement, scores Liverpool’s second goal of the night
Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen watches as the ball squirms over the line
56: Goal – Wijnaldum, Liverpool 3-0 Barcelona (Barcelona 3-3 Liverpool on aggregate)
Pandemonium. Anything goes now. Xherdan Shaqiri – whose touch let him down at times in the first half – curls a delightful ball into the penalty area that is just destined for the head of Wijnaldum and the midfielder steers it safely out of the reach of Ter Stegen and into the top corner.
There is time for the Liverpool players to celebrate now, the first goal they have properly celebrated all evening. Messi looks stunned, Suarez looks shellshocked, Coutinho looks like he has seen this before. He has – when he was in Liverpool red.
But if Barcelona score one, Liverpool will need another two to advance. There is such a long way to go.
Wijnaldum rises highest to head Liverpool’s third goal and haul them level against Barcelona
Wijnaldum’s header prompted wild scenes and was the first Liverpool celebrated that night
66: Messi free-kick, Liverpool 3-0 Barcelona (Barcelona 3-3 Liverpool on aggregate)
Matip, producing an outstanding display, has no choice but to take a yellow card after bringing Messi crashing to the ground as he gallivanted towards the Liverpool goal.
The free-kick looks in exactly the same position as Messi’s wonder-strike at the Nou Camp less than a week ago. Could lightening strike twice? This game is mad enough for that to happen.
But it hits the wall and spirals out for a corner. The second ball results in Messi being picked out with a smart run down the right side of the penalty area but Alisson saves well at his near post.
Messi watches on as his free-kick hits the Liverpool wall and goes out for a corner
79: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona, Divock Origi (Liverpool lead 4-3 on aggregate)
Of all the ways to take the lead! Alexander-Arnold buys a corner off of Alba by playing the ball against him with no other option available. He looks like he is going to let Shaqiri take it but as he trots away, he notices Origi is stood alone by the six-yard box.
He spins back, cracks the ball into Origi’s feet and the Belgium striker sweeps home. Barcelona can scarcely believe the ball is in the net, half of them were not even looking.
No extra-time now. This gets settled here. One goal for Barcelona would still be probably be enough and would mean Liverpool need a fifth. But how can they regather themselves? For the second season running, they have surrendered a three-goal advantage in the Champions League.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quick thinking led to Liverpool’s fourth goal through Origi
Origi turns the ball home with most of the Barcelona defence not watching the corner
Liverpool’s fourth goal of the night leaves Barcelona shell-shocked after losing their lead
81: Wijnaldum channels his inner Messi, (Liverpool lead 4-3 on aggregate)
Swamped by a rapacious Barcelona midfield, Wijnaldum shrugs and holds off Ivan Rakitic, Arthur Melo and Sergio Busquets and then facing his own defence, sends two the wrong way with a sublime back heel before launching Liverpool onto the attack.
Had he surrendered possession there, Barcelona would have had a strong chance to go at Liverpool’s back four. But the ball is rolling in Liverpool’s favour.
90: Barcelona pressing, five minutes added (Liverpool lead 4-3 on aggregate)
The flicks and tricks, ducks and weaves just aren’t coming off for Barcelona.
Liverpool look supercharged, swifter, stronger and faster. Fabinho snuffs out an interchange and charges forward to win a free-kick on the halfway line. Respite and vital ground recovered for Liverpool.
90+5: FULL-TIME: Liverpool 4-0 Barcelona (Liverpool win 4-3 on aggregate)
It’s done, it is there! Liverpool have made successive Champions League finals and while there is a ferocious outpouring of joy, nobody in red can quite believe what they have managed.
In Barcelona yellow, Suarez has headed straight for the tunnel, the venue of so many career successes now engraved as a place where one his most astonishing lows has occurred. Messi is staggered, perplexed, alone. Not even he could turn this tide.
Klopp lines his players up in front of the Kop for a booming rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone.
Milner has been in tears, Robertson is still hobbling, Klopp himself looks humbled and overcome with emotion. His players are exhausted, shattered and drained. But they are alive. They are back in the final.
Messi leaves Anfield shocked and stunned with Barcelona dumped out the tournament
The full Liverpool squad gathered in front of the Kop to celebrate victory with their fans