RED HOT AND READY FOR REAL CHALLENGE
IN August when Liverpool was sweating its way through the playoffs to qualify for the Champions League group phase, going all the way to the final was not on its radar.
Not after a season in which Liverpool did not even play in Europe. Not when no one could have imagined Mohamed Salah would develop into a scorer to rival Lionel Messi — and net 43 goals in 48 appearances in all competitions this season.
Or that Liverpool would score a Champions League-record 46 goals — surpassing the mark set by Barcelona in 19992000.
Nine months later, Liverpool will face twotime defending champion Real Madrid in the Ukraine on May 26 for the most coveted trophy in club football.
Liverpool advanced to a first Champions League final in more than a decade despite a 4-2 loss at Roma. The Reds scored two early goals and that was all they y needed to advance 7-6 on aggregate after a 5-2 win in the first leg.
“We came in as a qualifier and now we’re in the e final,” coach Jurgen Klopp said. aid. “Now we will go o to Kiev, which sounds crazy razy but is the truth.”
Sadio Mane took advantage of a misplaced Roma pass to put Liverpool ahead and Georginio Wijnaldum restored the advantage with a header after James Milner’s own goal.
Edin Dzeko equalised for Roma early and Radja Nainggolan scored two late goals as the Giallorossi missed out on another miracle comeback.
“It was the first time that we were not really as good as we can be, so we needed luck. That’s what we had,” Klopp said.
Roma was left feeling aggrieved about two penalty decisions that were not awarded.
“The VAR would have given us what was taken from us,” Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco said. “But Liverpool didn’t steal anything from us. They played 45 extraordinary minutes (in the first leg) and we played two second halves that were just as extraordinary.
“When two squads play in an open manner like that, it’s more like a boxing match.
“There should be more matches like these.”