by There is no doubt that Liverpool’s season has been impressive thus far and with one piece of major silverware already secured, it is now a case of just how many the Merseyside men can collect in the final month of the campaign.
Because with the Carabao Cup already safely in the trophy cabinet, another trip to Wembley is just around the corner and after beating Chelsea once already, they will look to secure the FA Cup in just a matter of weeks.
While that showpiece event takes place before the climax of both the Premier League and Champions League competitions and with the Anfield outfit pushing Manchester City all the way in the former, they could also meet in the final of later.
Especially as Liverpool’s ticket to Paris has now been confirmed and after taking a 2-0 lead to El Madrigal on Tuesday night, it is fair to say they were given a scare before their place in the Champions League final was confirmed.
Admittedly any meeting with Villarreal was always going to be a difficult one and with the Yellow Submarine’s fervent support ready to assist the team in the pursuit of victory, those same fans were handed something of an early reward.
One that came as early as the third minute and with Boulaye Dia netting early on, it set the tempo for what was to be a fascinating evening of Champions League football. While the fascination would only increase before the interval.
As Villarreal grew more and more assured, a one-goal advantage on the night quickly became two and with ex-Arsenal midfielder Francis Coquelin heading home a second for the hosts, it also meant parity in the tie was restored.
Something that Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool charges would be fully aware of at the interval and whatever the German coach said during the 15-minute period of respite, obviously went on to have the desired effect.
In the second half, Liverpool were clearly a team transformed and with an extra gear being found, they would show their additional impetus through the medium of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s right foot.
Unfortunately for the England defender, his looping effort would only clip the top of the crossbar and although Liverpool were yet to score on the night, they did at least set the agenda for what would soon unfold.
While their own increase in tempo, was one that finally allowed Fabinho to halve Liverpool’s deficit on the night and in doing so, it also allowed any travelling fans to finally breathe a little easier than they had before.
Of course, when it comes to ease, that is exactly how the scoring of Liverpool’s second could be described and with Colombian international Luis Diaz restoring parity on the night, a ticket to Paris was ready to be printed.
A ticket that was confirmed when Sadio Mane fought off not one but two onrushing tackles and in doing so was presented with an empty net. Which when the Senegalese star is presented with such a gift, he is never one to turn it down.
3-2 on the night, the turnaround complete and Liverpool now in the Champions League final for the third time in five seasons. The question now, is whether victory in the French capital on May 28th also completes a magical quadruple.
