Reds survive Roma ambush

ROME. — Liverpool reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2007, advancing 7-6 on aggregate despite losing a dramatic second leg to Roma.

A journey that started on 15 August in Germany against Hoffenheim in the play-off round will end on 26 May when Jurgen Klopp’s men face 12-time winners Real Madrid in Kiev.

Liverpool conceded three times in the closing stages in Rome to lose for the first time in the competition this season, but Klopp and his players celebrated wildly in front of 5 000 travelling fans after the final whistle at the Stadio Olimpico.

The German went round all of his players to hug them while the team posed for photographs with a banner in support of Sean Cox, the Liverpool supporter who was seriously injured after being attacked by Roma fans outside Anfield.

Reds fans were kept in the ground long after the final whistle, but continued to make themselves heard after an extraordinary game.

Leading 5-2 after a devastating first-leg performance at Anfield, Liverpool went further ahead when Sadio Mane finished from Roberto Firmino’s clever pass.

An own goal by James Milner, after Dejan Lovren’s attempted clearance cannoned off his teammate, levelled the scores on the night before Georginio Wijnaldum’s header made it 2-1.

However, Roma scored three more times to give Liverpool plenty of anxious moments in the Italian capital. — BBC.