Liverpool reaches Europa League final to continue turnaround under Klopp
Who would have thought that in this season, of all seasons, Liverpool would reach a European final for the first time in a decade?
Remember that time when Liverpool was a dumpster fire? That was back in October, when Brendan Rodgers was finally fired and Jurgen Klopp was convinced to come and rebuild at Anfield, in spite of the hopelessly disjointed squad and, well, lack of any short-term hope.
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It's May now, and the Reds are in the Europa League final thanks to Thursday's 3-0 win over Villarreal, undoing the damage of the 1-0 loss in the first leg. Sure, it isn't the Champions League final, like in 2006-07, but it's certainly a great deal more than any Kopite might have reasonably dared expect so soon.
Even a week ago, this seemed implausible when Liverpool gave away a late goal to Villarreal's Adrian Lopez in the 92nd minute in the first leg of their semifinal. Yet here we are, an hour and a half of game time later, and Liverpool will be the only non-Spanish club in a European final this season. Of all the clubs that might have broken through the Spanish hegemon – no team outside Spain had yet eliminated a La Liga club this year, in either European competition – who would have … Well, you get it by now.
The Yellow Submarine was insipid all night. Its feckless attack and spectating midfield were pressed out of the game by a driven and committed Liverpool. And the dividends came early.
After several failures to clear, Bruno bundled the ball into his own goal in the seventh minute.
Game on! Sturridge's effort is deflected in by Bruno for a Villarreal own goal. It's now 1-1 on aggregate! #LFCVIL https://t.co/uGobtLaL4K
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 5, 2016
Adam Lallana almost won the game after that, but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post on James Milner's excellent pass. And so it would take until the second half for the tie to be decided.
After the hour, lots of preparatory work by Roberto Firmino finally landed the ball at Daniel Sturridge's feet. His effort was smothered some by goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, but it had enough momentum to ping off the near post and trickle over the goal line.
Daniel Sturridge gives Liverpool a 2-1 aggregate lead over Villarreal. Can they hang on? #LFCVIL https://t.co/V67NYiw1ub
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 5, 2016
Although it needed a lone goal to advance, Villarreal was psychologically broken. Things weren't helped any when Victor Ruiz was sent off in the 71st minute for stepping on Lallana.
And then, to make things worse, Firmino did this.
We 👀 you, @Roberto_Firmino! #LFCVIL 🔥🔥🔥 https://t.co/4gKkX3iXdN
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 5, 2016
As if Firmino's humiliation of Roberto Soldado hadn't done so already, Lallana then flicked in a third goal to complete Liverpool's demolition of Villarreal's confidence and secure passage to the May 18 final against Sevilla, which was a 5-3 aggregate winner over Shakhtar Donetsk.
Adam Lallana gives Liverpool a 3-0 lead vs Villarreal to all but clinch the Reds' place in the #UEL final. #LFCVIL https://t.co/hKpeI4thvr
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 5, 2016
Is Liverpool back to being an elite club? Maybe. Probably not. Not yet.
But let's celebrate with some moving images of Klopp anyway.
Lovren'in müdahelesi ve Klopp'un reaksiyonu; https://t.co/M5aCzzAhyh
— Buzz Spor (@buzzspor) May 5, 2016
Anybody know how to read lips? #klopp #lfc https://t.co/AjizLVI0vg
— Jhony Gutierrez (@andthefoul) May 5, 2016
Jurgen Klopp celebrates Liverpool's early goal against Villarreal https://t.co/uyYyB9vqjo
— LiverpoolFans (@LiverpoolFans1) May 5, 2016
Klopp eccied oot his nut https://t.co/yMhzAkvPMb
— Snagster (@Snagsy1980) May 5, 2016
We think Klopp enjoyed that one... https://t.co/ZqD0xx2qO8
— SportsJOE․co․uk (@SportsJOE_co_uk) May 5, 2016
Leander Schaerlaeckens is a soccer columnist for Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @LeanderAlphabet.