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Liverpool has reached its third Champions League final in five years, but it was a rather more stressful affair in the second leg than it had appeared it might be. What was supposed to be a procession after the 2–0 win in the first leg threatened briefly to become one of the most unexpected comebacks in European history as Villarreal went in 2–0 up at halftime, but a much-improved Liverpool performance in the second half brought a 3–2 win on the night for a 5–2 aggregate victory. Now history may await in Paris.
Jürgen Klopp will, rightly, take credit for inspiring the comeback, and it is to Liverpool’s credit that having been so sloppy it had the fortitude to rediscover its form, but few opposing goalkeepers will be quite so accommodating as Villarreal’s Gerónimo Rulli was in aiding the visitors’ effort.
