Liverpool came from two goals down to defeat Villarreal 3-2 on Tuesday in Spain, advancing to their third Champions League final in five years with a 5-2 aggregate triumph.
Villarreal led 2-0 at halftime, but goals by Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin leveled the tie on aggregate, but Fabinho, Luis Diaz, and Sadio Mane all scored for Liverpool in the second half before Etienne Capoue was sent off.
Liverpool, six-time European champions, will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final in Paris on May 28.
Either Manchester City or Real Madrid will be a tougher test than Villarreal, but after a humbling experience at Anfield last week, Unai Emery’s side delivered a spirited performance that rattled Liverpool and demonstrated why they knocked out both Juventus and Bayern Munich to reach the semi-finals.
Liverpool were reckless, perhaps even complacent, in the first half, but outstanding in the second, displaying an energy and pace that Villarreal simply couldn’t equal.