Liverpool will play Real Madrid in the Champions League final despite suffering a chaotic 4-2 semi-final second leg loss to Roma in the Stadio Olimpico.
The 7-6 win on aggregate was secured thanks to Sadio Mane’s 19th goal of the season and Georginio Wijnaldum’s first away strike in almost three years.
An own goal by James Milner had put the hosts back in the game while Edin Dzeko’s strike shortly after half-time ensured the Reds endured a testing conclusion. Radja Nainngolan then scored twice, but it was too late for Roma.
Tweet of the match
Star man – Sadio Mane
While PFA and FWA Player of the Year Mohamed Salah, the star of the first leg, had something of a quiet night, Mane was Liverpool’s brightest spark in attack. He scored the first goal of the evening in composed fashion and almost added another, being denied by a decent Alisson save.
Real Madrid await
After another crazy game Liverpool can now look forward to a clash with Real Madrid in a final in Kiev on May 26 that is a truly tantalising prospect. Jurgen Klopp’s side are the top scorers in the competition this season and take on the club who have won the competition for three of the last four seasons, including each of the last two.
Data Point
Ratings
Roma: Alisson 6/10, Alessandro Florenzi 6, Kostas Manolas 6, Federico Fazio 5, Aleksandar Kolarov 6, Lorenzo Pellegrini 5, Daniele De Rossi 6, Radja Nainggolan 6, Patrik Schick 5, Edin Dzeko 7, Stephan El Shaarawy 7. Substitutes: Cengiz Under (for Pellegrini, 53) 6, Maxime Gonalons (for De Rossi, 69) 5, Mirko Antonucci (for El Shaarawy, 75) 5.
Liverpool: Loris Karius 6, Trent Alexander-Arnold 6, Dejan Lovren 6, Virgil van Dijk 6, Andy Robertson 7, Georginio Wijnaldum 6, Jordan Henderson 6, James Milner 7, Mohamed Salah 6, Roberto Firmino 7, Sadio Mane 8. Substitutes: Ragnar Klavan (for Mane, 83) 5, Dominic Solanke (for Firmino, 87) 5, Nathaniel Clyne (for Alexander-Arnold, 92) 5.
Who’s up next?
Cagliari v Roma (Serie A, May 6)
Chelsea v Liverpool (Premier League, May 6)
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