Liverpool Through To Their 8th CL Final

Sports - Football - Champions League - ASR 4:2 LFC

Liverpool battled through to the Champions League final but not without hiccups and late drama, losing 4-2 at Roma on Wednesday night, qualifying 7-6 on aggregate after their 5-2 Anfield glory in the first leg, adding up a record number of goals in a European semi-final.

Man of the match Sadio Mané netted the opener after just over eight minutes, pouncing on Roberto Firmino's fine pass after Radja Nainggolan's giveaway, the first goal conceded by the Italians at the Stadio Olimpico in the competition this season.

That left Eusebio Di Francesco's men needing four goals to progress and were helped when James Milner headed Dejan Lovren's clearance into his own net, not knowing much about it as it was so quick, just 15 minutes gone.

Top scorer Mohamed Salah was kept quiet by his former side and continued his goal drought (of two games), but surprisingly Georginio Wijnaldum made it 1-2 (3-7 on agg) with his first goal away from home, capitalising on Edin Dzeko's failure to head the ball away and nodding it in unmarked

But the home side didn't give up, Stephan El Shaarawy hitting the post before Roma's late rally and drama saw them come back, Dzeko equalising shortly after the restart when Loris Karius pushed Shaarawy's shot straight to him.

The Liverpool keeper made some crucial saves and blocks, but couldn't help but just watch as the ball went in off the post, Nainggolan with the shot that put the Italians ahead for the first time 3-2 on the night, four minutes to go.

And the final seconds added to the Reds' nerves and worries as the Belgian added another goal from the spot, substitute Ragnar Klavan punished for handling the ball, making it 4-2 (6-7 on agg). GULP!

The officials had a lot on their hands and a few decisions were questionable, especially harsh and inconsistent with the offside flag, and their take on challenges and handballs, but that's nothing new.

After the full-time whistle Jürgen Klopp was buzzing and celebrated with the fans, who had to wait till early hours in the morning to be released from the ground, but it created some awesome and unforgettable scenes.

It was great to see the team celebrate so wholeheartedly, skipper Jordan Henderson bringing a flag for Sean Cox onto the pitch. YNWA! XxXxX

The Reds will attend their 8th European final in Kiev, an English record, against record-12-times European winners Real Madrid on the 26th May 2018.

We all know what happened the last time these two sides met in a final... :-D #BOOM

Click here for all the know-how-who-what of the two great sides in the competition. #HISTORY #LEGENDS

Roma Goals: Milner OG 15', Dzeko 52', Nainggolan 86' & pen 90'.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 9' & Wijnaldum 25'.

Match Stats: ASR 4-2 LFC
Possession: 60%-40%
Shots: 24-11
On target: 6-5
Corners: 7-3
Fouls 10-14
Yellow cards: 2-3

AS Roma Team: 1 Alisson; 11 Kolarov, 20 Fazio, 44 Manolas (booked), 24 Florenzi (booked); 4 Nainggolan, 16 De Rossi (21 Gonalons 69'), 7 Pellegrini (17 Uender 53'); 92 El Shaarawy (48 Antonucci 75'), 9 Dzeko, 14 Schick. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 28 Skorupski, 5 Jesus, 25 Peres, 30 Gerson.

Liverpool Team: 1 Karius; 26 Robertson (booked), 6 Lovren (booked), 4 Van Dijk, 66 Alexander-Arnold (2 Clyne 90'); 7 Milner, 14 Henderson, 5 Wijnaldum; 19 Mané (17 Klavan 83'), 9 Firmino (29 Solanke 87', (booked)), 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 18 Moreno, 28 Ings, 58 Woodburn.

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slvn)
Man of the match: Sadio Mané
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 61,889

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, i and Times newspapers, Twitter and beIN sports coverage.