Liverpool

Minute-by-minute report: Can Liverpool defend their first-leg lead and reach the final for the third time in five years? Find out with Rob Smyth.

24 min Salah shoots just wide from 15 yards after a bit of a scramble in the area, though the referee had blown for something or other. 34 min This has been Liverpool’s worst performance in a while - certainly since the first half at the Etihad and probably a lot longer than that. Villarreal need to make the most of their dominance. 26 min The pitch is playing well enough despite all the rain. Normally that would be a bad thing for Liverpool, but at the moment it suits them. 56 min A corner is half cleared to Thiago, who shoots straight at Rulli from the edge of the area. Also, Thiago is the guy you want when you’re in the ascendancy but can he dig you out of a hole?” Both men ended up in a heap, and on first viewing it looked a really tight call, but replays showed it was a clean bit of keeping from Alisson. If anything, Lo Celso fouled him. They have been outplayed, outsmarted and outfought by Villarreal, who are level in the tie thanks to goals from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin. Join us in 15 minutes for the second half. Again it came from a cross, this time by Capoue on the right. It’s interesting that both Everton and Villarreal have targeted Robertson and Alexander-Arnold in recent weeks, with a reasonable amount of success. 57 min Diaz shins a scissor kick over the bar.

Check out how to watch Villarreal v Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals this week, including TV details, team news, predictions and odds.

Villarreal certainly boast a chance here though it's a slim one. Emery's compact, organised, gritty style did its job in the first leg: Villarreal are not out of it yet. The first 15 minutes of this one will be vital. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. You can add the ‘Big Sport’ package for £40 per month which includes all BT Sport and 11 Sky Sports channels via a NOW pass. Best football players in the world 2022

A two-goal lead is what Liverpool have from the first leg as they look to reach a third final in five years.

Resulting corner beats everybody, finds Robertson but his shot is tame. Villarreal's Moreno's right leg is heavily strapped, still on the pitch, though. Salah threads a ball through to Fabinho, looked like he was going to cross it but he went for goal, the ball going through the keeper's legs.

The Yellow Submarine scored in just the third minute of the second leg courtesy of Boulaye Dia before Francis Coquelin's 41st minute equalizer.

After dominating possession in the second half, Fabinho restored the lead for Liverpool in the 62nd minute. The Yellow Submarine looked to have a golden chance in the 37th minute but was left to argue for a penalty that was never given. Liverpool came shockingly close to a goal in the 55th minute off a quickly taken free kick. Villarreal kept up the pressure as Liverpool struggled to get out of its own half throughout the first 15 minutes. Villarreal will have to pull off the comeback without one of its top players, as Arnaut Danjuma is unavailable with a foot injury. But the Reds will have to hold off a Villarreal side that has put together a couple of formidable second-leg performances so far.

Liverpool rallied with three second-half goals to advance to the Champions League final for the third time in five years. It will face Manchester City or ...

It has already won the league cup, and will play in the F.A. Cup final at Wembley on May 14. In part that is doubtless because of home advantage, and in part it is because Villarreal has to attack. It began with a cross from Estupiñan on the left to Étáenne Capoue, who got in behind Andy Robertson at the back post. 25′ Liverpool’s turn: They force the ball into the Villarreal box and Rulli blocks Mané. But he leaves the rebound free for a split second and Salah takes a stab at it just as he puts his hand on it. But the referee had blown play dead for a foul, and we come back the other way. He runs right past a flat-footed Alexander-Arnold and just like that, Villarreal leads by 2-0, and the aggregate is all square. At halftime, Unai Emery’s team was in control of the game and in control of the two-legged tie, and Liverpool — the overwhelming favorite — seemed to have had its confidence sapped and its rhythm broken. But he creates some space at the end line — far too easily if you’re Liverpool — and crosses in the direction of Coquelin in the center. You can, ultimately, rely on the Champions League. A little less than an hour ago, Liverpool was sailing through to a third final in five years, its second leg with Villarreal really more of an administrative matter. Just as it did in the first leg a week ago, Liverpool has changed the fabric of this tie in little more than a blink of an eye. Unai Emery’s approach at Anfield was understandable — his mission was, essentially, to remain in the tie — but it felt a little like a good plan, ineffectively executed. Liverpool gets on the board through the most unlikely of sources, Fabinho, but its goal on a low, driven shot is deserved.

Mane, Luis Diaz and Fabinho score for Liverpool afta Coquelin and Boulaye equalise crucial Champions League semi-final second leg.

Full time - Liverpool don qualify for di 2021/22 Champions League final. Big 45 minutes to decide who go qualify for di final. 25 mins - Liverpool dey yet to get shot on target for dis second-leg as dem dey struggle to hold onto di ball. 3 mins - Goal for Villareal Boulaye Dia don score im first goal for di Champions League. 22 mins - Moreno receive Capoue pass and try to break into attack but di flag don go up for offside wen im try to find Dia. 10 mins - Andy Robertson send in freekick into di box, di cross hit Jota leg go out for Villareal goalkick. 1 mins - Liverpool don start dis second-leg. 84 mins - Milner don come on for Fabinho. 62 mins - If di tie end like dis Liverpool go qualify on aggregate. 60 mins - Liverpool don begin show di urgency dem need. 48 mins - Keita run into Estupinan, referee don give Liverpool freekick for good position. 46 mins - Di home team don resume di second half.

Reports say that the club is interested in bringing on Mason Mount.

Until then, it’s interesting to follow the rumours and see which ones have any legs. Currently, Mount has two more years on his contract, which isn’t set to expire until 2024. Among the many and varied midfielders linked with Liverpool for the upcoming summer transfer window is Mason Mount. The Chelsea attacking midfielder is said to be looking for an out this summer.

For Liverpool, a 10th European Cup final appearance beckons and a shot at winning the thing for the seventh time. It was a night when their class told, ...

Liverpool had trailed for a total of 69 minutes in matches since the turn of the year. Liverpool pushed to confirm their superiority and it felt like a trick of the mind that things had been so different in the first half. They had dreamed of scoring the first goal. He was beaten when Fabinho lashed in a shot from an angle, the ball seeming to go through him, which was a hammer blow for him and his team. They scored through Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin and the crazy thing was that the team that sits seventh in La Liga, the one with little experience of these kind of nights, could have had more. It was a night when their class told, specifically the control and composure that has seen them sweep all before them since the turn of the year, raising the prospect of an unprecedented quadruple.

The Reds' 2-0 first-leg lead was wiped out before Fabinho, substitute Diaz and Sadio Mane saw them into the Champions League final.

Liverpool are into a third final of the season, having won the Carabao Cup and facing Chelsea in the FA Cup a week on Saturday, and this victory means they will have played every game available to them in their fixture calendar. Prior to this game Klopp’s side had been behind for only 57 minutes in 2022 but by the break they had not only trailed for 42 minutes but were even further behind. Even when they did get in behind the Villarreal defence, Jota’s touch was heavy from Mohamed Salah’s through-ball and gave Rulli enough of a chance to reach it. Boosted by the return of striker Gerard Moreno, they were aggressive and direct but the manner in which the visitors failed to handle that was startling. The Argentinian had a hand – or lack of one – in all of Liverpool’s three goals from Fabinho, Diaz and Sadio Mane in 12 second-half minutes and was culpable for at least two. While the three-goal cushion may look comfortable this was a test of their nerve and powers of recovery as an awful first half by their standards saw their first-leg advantage wiped out by debut goals in the competition from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin.

Liverpool won the EFL Cup in February and have booked their place in two more finals later this month. Jurgen Klopp's team will take on Chelsea in the FA Cup ...

They would have held a similar event after winning the Premier League in 2020 but were unable to do so due to COVID restrictions. Jurgen Klopp's team will take on Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 14, two weeks before their third Champions League final in five years. Liverpool won the EFL Cup in February and have booked their place in two more finals later this month.

The clock struck midnight on Villarreal's Cinderella run through the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, as the Spanish side was eliminated by Liverpool ...

It appeared as though destiny would again smile on the Spanish club, as Liverpool were frustrated for the duration of the first half in the face of an unlikely elimination. Staring down the possibility of extra time, the Reds made sure that the tie was decided within the 90 minutes, with Fabinho getting his side on the board just after the hour mark with help from Rulli. The Liverpool midfielder gathered to the goalkeeper's left and unleashed what appeared to be a low-percentage effort from 12 yards out that travelled directly through Rulli's legs and into the back of the net. With Liverpool having won the first leg 2-0, Villarreal needed a pair of goals just to even the tie, and they got them before the halftime break as Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin found the back of the net for the hosts with their team's only two shots on target of the match.

Liverpool were blown away by a first-half blitz from Villarreal in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, seeing their 2-0 aggregate lead ...

The half-time whistle was met with plenty of relief for Jurgen Klopp, whose side's hopes of lifting an unprecedented quadruple were left teetering. The visitors could hardly muster a chance and their best opportunity fell to Diogo Jota, who saw his effort from close range blocked. The Yellow Submarine had plenty of joy with direct, line-splitting passes, especially aiming to exploit the space left in behind by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was based typically high up Liverpool's right flank.

Liverpool's Luis Diaz (second right) celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League semifinal, second leg against Villarreal. (CNN) ...

Spurred by Diaz's introduction, Liverpool looked a different side after the interval. Within 10 minutes, the tie was over. Capoue again turned provider to draw Villarreal level in the tie five minutes before the break.

Jurgen Klopp has created a goal-scoring machine in the form of his Liverpool side this term as the Reds have netted a club-record amount for a single season ...

Remarkably, there is still plenty of time for Liverpool add to that figure - most notably in the Champions League final they are now in. Not only does this represent an incredible feat from Klopp's side, but it also places this current crop of Liverpool players in the club's history books. Sadio Mane bagged the third, meaning the Reds' overall tally for goals scored in all competitions this term sits at 139.

Liverpool forward Mo Salah has scored more goals and provided more assists than any other player in the Premier League this season. But he wants more.

I am always honest and focus on the Champions League and Premier League. But now, why not?" I have never said this before, but before the season starts I say I want to go for 40 goals and maybe 15 assists. "I have hit the assists so I need to focus on the goals now!"

The quadruple dream edges ever closer, thanks to Liverpool's Luis Diaz-inspired second half comeback which secured a 5-2 aggregate win.

There was more to come on 74 minutes when Rulli made an horrendous error, racing from his goal to try and intercept a through ball but miskicked 35 yards from goal and watched in despair as Mane converted into an open net. The tie had swung inexorably in Liverpool’s direction and Diaz struck the hammer blow on 67 minutes, timing his run well to meet a brilliant Alexander-Arnold cross and acrobatically twist to head home from six yards. Still, it was a much-improved start to the half from the visitors and, after 55 minutes, Alexander-Arnold’s deflected 25-yard shot struck the top of the cross-bar and a Mane cross soon found Diaz who volleyed over spectacularly. With five minutes left in the half, Liverpool’s full-backs were badly exposed; first when Robertson failed to deal with Capoue as he first mis-controlled the ball but then found the space to cross from the by-line. Diogo Jota, recalled for the game, was played clean through on 24 minutes but a combination of Raul Albiol and Geronimo Rulli, plus a poor first touch, saw the chance come to nothing. Dani Parejo shot just wide from the edge of the Liverpool area and the lively Estupinan picked out Villarreal dangerman Alberto Moreno with a cross which the striker just about reached but saw his effort easily blocked by Naby Keita.

Match report as Liverpool score three goals in 12 second-half minutes to book third Champions League final berth in five years against either Real Madrid or ...

"Getting the first goal after two or three minutes, that's the opposite of what you want. But also, you have to show how much you really want to go to the final, that's how it starts. Indeed, Klopp has guided them into an eighth final during his time as manager and they are just six games away now from an historic quadruple. "We had to be very mature and obviously second half we played outstanding. The first half we should forget as soon as possible. The win stretches Liverpool's unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions. The hosts embarked on a walk of honour at the final whistle with the city proud of a team dwarfed by the resources of their opponents. His goal today was his first in the Champions League since March 2017 vs Manchester City while still with Monaco. Villarreal looked like they had expended all their energy and with Liverpool's next attack, they nudged ahead to land a huge psychological blow. Villarreal pair Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin both scored their first ever Champions League goals in this match. They are only the second side to lose a Champions League semi-final match despite leading by 2+ goals at half-time, after Ajax vs Spurs in 2018-19. "We never make these Champions League semi-finals easy for ourselves," Alexander-Arnold told BT Sport. "Thinking back to Roma away and Barcelona at home and now here.

Liverpool booked their third Champions League final in five seasons after a chaotic 3-2 second-leg win in Villarreal saw them progress 5-2 on aggregate.

Liverpool are into a third final of the season, having won the Carabao Cup and facing Chelsea in the FA Cup a week on Saturday, and this victory means they will have played every game available to them in their fixture calendar. Prior to this game Klopp’s side had been behind for only 57 minutes in 2022 but by the break they had not only trailed for 42 minutes but were even further behind. Even when they did get in behind the Villarreal defence, Jota’s touch was heavy from Mohamed Salah’s through-ball and gave Rulli enough of a chance to reach it. Boosted by the return of striker Gerard Moreno, they were aggressive and direct but the manner in which the visitors failed to handle that was startling. The Argentinian had a hand – or lack of one – in all of Liverpool’s three goals from Fabinho, Diaz and Sadio Mane in 12 second-half minutes and was culpable for at least two. While the three-goal cushion may look comfortable this was a test of their nerve and powers of recovery as an awful first half by their standards saw their first-leg advantage wiped out by debut goals in the competition from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin.

Basketball superstar and huge Liverpool fan LeBron James was quick to react on social media after seeing the Reds book their place in yet another Champions ...

I'm pitchside, and I want you next to us in Paris. Give us the support we need to win that seventh European Cup. Come and join us, big man." "It’s nice to get the job done on a Tuesday, we can watch the game tomorrow knowing we’ll be in the final and playing one of them. He said on CBS Sports: "LeBron. If you want to come to Paris, you can join us and the CBS team and you can be my guest.

Jürgen Klopp's side stun Villarreal with three goals in 12 second-half minutes.

Liverpool pushed to confirm their superiority and it felt like a trick of the mind that things had been so different in the first half. Liverpool had trailed for a total of 69 minutes in matches since the turn of the year. They had dreamed of scoring the first goal. He was beaten when Fabinho lashed in a shot from an angle, the ball seeming to go through him, which was a hammer blow for him and his team. They scored through Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin and the crazy thing was that the team that sits seventh in La Liga, the one with little experience of these kind of nights, could have had more. It was a night when their class told, specifically the control and composure that has seen them sweep all before them since the turn of the year, raising the prospect of an unprecedented quadruple.

Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane were all on target for the Reds after the break as they sailed through to the final in Paris, where they will play the winners ...

Having won last season’s Europa League title, it was always going to be tough for the team to replicate this achievement in Europe’s premier club competition but they gave it a good go and were 45 minutes away from the showpiece. Yet despite the disappointment on the night, the home side’s fans were keen to show their pride in their team and the efforts they had made throughout their incredible European run. This season is just the second time in the Spanish club’s history that they have reached the final four stage of the Champions League. They did so in 2006 but were edged out 1-0 by Arsenal on aggregate.