The road to Kiev – FMP Research

With Liverpool qualifying for the champions league final for the second time in 2 years, here at STRIKE we have decided to look back on their last European adventure in 2018. This is the story of their journey…

The campaign kicked off with a qualifier against Hoffenheim, a game the reds would have been wary of due to the unusual caliber of opponent at this stage of the competition. Jurgen Klopp named a strong side to challenge the Germans, including the likes of Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane. The reds suffered a heart-stopping moment when Dejan Lovren clumsily brought down Kramaric in the box, handing the Bundesliga side a chance to open the scoring. Simon Mignolet made a fine stop to keep the score at 0-0 and keep the game going in Liverpool’s favour. Later on, teenage prodigy Trent-Alexander Arnold stepped up to strike a curling free kick on his European debut, sending it over the hapless Hoffenheim wall and into the net sparking wild celebrations amongst reds supporters. An own goal then made it 2-0 the rampant reds, however a late goal from Mark Uth brought it to 2-1 and made for a tense second leg of the tie. After eight short days the second leg had arrived and Klopp elected to stay with same lineup he had deployed previously. This time the reds comfortably dispatched the deflated Germans in a 4-2 victory, that included a contender for goal of the season when Emre Can finished off a superb team goal that was well orchestrated by Firmino, Mane and Wijnaldum. This victory sent them through to the group stages.

This was the first time Liverpool had got to the group stages since 2014/15 and Klopp’s men were eager to impress. Pitted against Maribor, Spartak Moscow and the European pedigree of Seville, reds fans knew they would be tested. The group stage kicked off with a frustrating 2-2 draw with Seville. Liverpool dominated the game and recorded 24 shots compared to Seville’s 2 on target. Roberto Firmino missed a penalty at 2-1, which ultimately cost Liverpool 2 points and made the rest of group stage all the more difficult. A game against Moscow finished in a similar fashion with a 1-1 draw leading to some fans being critical of the teams lack of quality in front of goal. This would soon change. Liverpool turned up to their 3rd group stage game against Maribor with a new found swagger, courtesy of a good run of league games . Salah and Firmino both found the net twice, along with goals from Coutinho, Oxlade-chaimberlain and Alexander-Arnold. The 7-0 thrashing was soon followed by a comfortable 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture. Liverpool’s prowess in front of goal continued into the game against Seville with Firmino bagging a brace and Salah adding a third. This game however was overshadowed by the defensive frailties of the Liverpool back line as Seville grabbed 3 goals to make the score 3-3. The final game against Moscow was a decimation. Liverpool hit seven, with captain Phillipe Coutinho getting a hattrick on what proved to be one of his final games for the Merseyside club. The devastating front three of Salah, Mane and Firmino also each bagged a goal in what proved to be one of the heaviest ever defeats inflicted by an English team in the Champions League.

The round of 16 had arrived and Liverpool manged to avoid all the big teams left in the competition. They had secured a home and away tie against Porto, a team with vast amounts of European experience. Up first was a trip to Portugal, with many reds fans worried about how the team would perform at this stage of the competition. The attacking might of the Liverpool squad was something to fear but all knew that defense was the teams Achilles heel. Fortunately, the Liverpool defense was barely tested. The “Fab three” of Mane, Salah and Firmino decimated the Porto back line with Mane claiming a sensational European hattrick to cap off a historic 5-0 victory. This put the reds in the drivers seat going into the second leg at Anfield and it was obvious how confident Klopp was, as he was happy to cruise to a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture.

There was one team Liverpool did not want to get in the quarter-final draw, and they were run-away premier league leaders Manchester City. Flashbacks to the 4-0 defeat Liverpool suffered at the start of the season replayed in the minds of many as City were drawn up against Liverpool for an all English clash of the titans. The belief around the Liverpool squad however did not reflect the fears of some of the fans. The hunger for success had set in and it was obvious that Klopp expected only the best from his players leading up to the first leg at Anfield. Before the game, the City team bus was mobbed by reds fans who gave the high flying city players a taste of what European football is all about. The game kicked off at Anfield, and what came was a game that will live long in the memories of those who watched it. City started brightly, but soon fell apart under the sustained pressure of an inspired Liverpool side. The reds magical Egyptian, Mohammed Salah opened the scoring and sent Anfield into hysteria. If that wasn’t enough for reds fans, it was only a matter of time before a reborn Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain took the game by the scruff of the neck and rifled home a stunning shot from outside the box. City were stunned. All defensive discipline was lost allowing for Mane to get in behind and direct a header into the bottom corner for Liverpool’s third before the half time whistle. One can only imagine the team talks both managers gave at half time, but both teams came out in the second half and completely switched roles. City relentlessly attacked Liverpool’s back line, but they held on for a huge 3-0 win. The second leg came with huge expectation on the shoulders of both teams as City faced an up hill battle to overtake the reds machine. Gabriel Jesus scored almost instantly after kick-off and many felt that city really would turn the tie on its head. Liverpool bore the brunt of City’s attacking prowess in the first half, but their heroic defending kept the ball out of the net until half time. After a tense half time break, both teams came out to the hum of an expectant crowd. It also came to light that Pep Guardiola had been sent to the stands following an altercation with the referee. Cheers rang out as the match got back underway, and it was Liverpool’s turn to dominate proceedings as they drove forward in waves. Liverpool got their goal in the 56th minute through no other than Mo Salah who chipped the ball into the net for his 39th goal of the season. They had secured the crucial away goal and it was left to Roberto Firmino to round off the game, squeezing the ball into the net from a tight angle to finish the game 2-1. The impossible had been achieved, Liverpool were in the Champions League semi-final.

An unusual opponent at this stage of the competition, Roma had come into the game after pulling of one of the greatest European comebacks in the history against Barcelona. The match started at a high tempo which continued throughout as Liverpool laid siege to Roma’s goal. Sadio Mane missed a handful of guilt-edged chances before Liverpool suffered a major setback. Oxlade-Chamberlain took the full for of a Kolarov challenge and was forced off the pitch. Liverpool seemed worried after the switch, with Edin Dzeko going close to opening the scoring. That seemed to wake Liverpool up, and from there they found their rhythm. Mo Salah took centre stage against his former club, scoring 2 and assisting a further 2 more goals. Liverpool found themselves 5-0 up with just 10 minutes to go, however their defense went back to sleep and Roma punished them. 2 late away goals made sure the reverse fixture would be a nervy affair. The second leg in Rome promised to be as spectacular as the first as the whistle blew for kick off. Sadio Mane opened the scoring before a freak own goal from James Milner leveled the score. Gini Wijnaldum scored from a corner to be Liverpool back ahead. Roma went on to score three more through Edin Dzeko and Radja Nainggolan. The match played out with in Roma’s favor, as they ran out 4-2 winners, however Liverpool had the last laugh as they won 7-6 on aggregate. The travelling Liverpool fans celebrated wildly with their players as the reality of the situation sunk in. Liverpool were back to the pinnacle of European football.

This was it. Centre stage in Europe’s greatest football competition against champions league royalty in Real Madrid. The mood around Liverpool supporters was mixed as many believed Madrid to be the unbeatable force in the competition. The day of the final had come and crowds gathered inside the Olimpiyskiy Stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. Both teams named full strength line ups, and as the whistle blew for the commencing of the match, both sets of fans let out a roar of excitement. Liverpool dominated the opening minutes of the match with Madrid unable to adjust to the pressure they were being put under. However, tragedy struck as Madrid captain Sergio Ramos wrestled Mo Salah to the ground causing him to land awkwardly on his shoulder. Salah tried to continue but was overcome by pain and had to be substituted for Adam Lallana. Some reds fans were inconsolable as their star player left the field in tears. Liverpool drove on but a freak mistake by goalkeeper Lloris Karius allowed Benzema to tap into an empty net. The reds became deflated as Madrid raised their game, but Sadio Mane did manage an equaliser, heading into the bottom corner to draw the game level. However, Madrid introduced Gareth Bale who turned the game on its head. In the 64th minute Bale produced a sublime bicycle kick that stunned Liverpool, and went on to score another from long range, courtesy of more questionable goalkeeping. Liverpool had fought hard but just not hard enough. Their fairy tale was over.