LIVERPOOL BACK TO WHERE THEY BELONG

Liverpool rode their luck to make it to the Champions League final as they contained a fired-up AS Roma on Wednesday night. With the five-time European champions setting up a mouth-watering summit clash with Real Madrid, HT looks at how they went about achieving the impossible:

DEADLY TRIO

If one thought Philippe Coutinho’s departure would weaken Liverpool, they have proved everyone wrong, thanks to the exploits of Mohamed Salah (in pic), Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane.

Over the two legs, the trio combined well to run riot upfront. They have scored 29 goals among them in the Champions League which made them the highest scoring trio for a club in a single campaign, overtaking Real Madrid’s Crisitano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, who scored 28 goals in 2013-14.

STICKING TO THEIR GUNS

With defence not their forte, Liverpool decided to play their natural game against Roma, attacking at every opportunity and the high press got them two early goals which finally proved to be crucial.

Both the goals came through defensive errors which were the result of Liverpool players pressurising Roma defenders, not allowing them time to look around to find a pass. But, what will concern Klopp going into the final is that they have conceded goals easily throughout the season.

DREAM COMES TRUE

Inspired by dreams of restoring Liverpool to their former glory, Juergen Klopp joined the Reds three years ago to experience unforgettable nights like this. By leading Liverpool to their eighth European Cup final, Klopp confirmed his reputation as a revolutionary with a unique skill for galvanising moribund teams.

Having out-witted Man City’s Pep Guardiola in the quarters, Klopp — drawing on the knowledge from leading Dortmund to the 2013 final — out-classed Roma’s Eusebio Di Francesco so emphatically in the first leg that even Roma's late goal blitz in the return wasn't enough to stop the Reds from setting up a repeat of the 1981 final.