Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Liverpool's "too emotional" moment that set up run to Champions League final

mirror.co.uk, 4 May 2022, 14:13
Liverpool will head to Paris to play in the Champions League final later this month after battling until the bitter end last season to simply qualify for the tournament

Alisson wandered into the opposing penalty box at the Hawthorns more in hope than expectation last term before heading home a season-defining goal for Liverpool.

The Reds, who battled through last season despite a plethora of injuries, were mounting a late charge as they aimed to get into the top four and this season's Champions League.

West Brom, who suffered relegation, were looking to steal a point off Liverpool for the second time in the season.

Hal Robson-Kanu opened the scoring before Mo Salah equalised. Then Alisson's winner came in the 96th minute and saw him mobbed by his teammates in the empty stadium.

The Brazilian had lost his father three months earlier but was determined to help the Merseyside outfit get back into the Champions League, having previously tasted success in the competition.

As he fought back tears in front of the TV cameras after the match, he said: "I'm too emotional because of these last months and everything that happened with me and my family, but football is my life and I've played since I remember as a human being with my father. I hope he was here to see it but I'm sure that he has seen it with God on his side and celebrating.

"It's for my family, for the boys, what a fight.

"Sometimes we are fighting and fighting and things are just not happening. Just scoring this goal, I am really happy to help them because they fight a lot, we fight a lot together and we have a strong goal to achieve the Champions League because we won it once and everything starts with qualification. I can't be more happy than I am now."

Had it not been for that goal by the rarest of goalscorers then the Reds may not have been playing in Europe's top competition. After the win at the Baggies the Reds remained fifth, one point off Chelsea and three behind Leicester. They won their final two games to seal third place.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Liverpool win the Champions League? Let us know in the comments

This term they've peaked just at the right time and remain on the cusp of the quadruple.

The Carabao Cup is secured and they went one step closer to the historic feat by beating Villarreal in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Inter Milan and Benfica have also been seen off in the knockout stages.

Now either Manchester City or Real Madrid will stand between them and a second European triumph in four seasons.

Jurgen Klopp claim he has no preference when it comes to an opponent.

He said: "It's not like I would wish for one or the other, it will be massive. And whoever wins tomorrow night or gets the result will deserve it and then we will face each other in Paris."

Top News

15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly moved into pole position in the race to sign RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko this summer. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea winger Mykhaylo Mudryk suffered a suspected concussion in Wednesday's 2-1 away win over Brighton & Hove Albion. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea attacker Cole Palmer equalled a club record in Wednesday's 2-1 win over Brighton & Hove Albion. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erik ten Hag has insisted that Manchester United want to keep hold of captain Bruno Fernandes amid reported uncertainty over his future at Old Trafford. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both aiming to end their respective campaigns on a positive note, Rio Ave will welcome Portuguese giants Benfica to Estadio do Rio Ave for a Primeira Liga clash on Friday night. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over Atalanta to clinch their 15th Coppa Italia trophy. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United remain in the hunt to qualify for Europe after securing a 3-2 home victory over fellow top-six hopefuls Newcastle United in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cole Palmer and Christopher Nkunku scored the goals as Chelsea recorded a 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League at the Amex on Wednesday night. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic have been crowned Scottish Premiership champions for the third year running thanks to a 5-0 thrashing of Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Arsenal's first-team goalkeepers has revealed that he has already said his goodbyes to the club ahead of an expected exit this summer. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The undoubted blockbuster fixture of gameweek 32 in the Saudi Pro League will be the star-studded Riyadh derby, which is set to take place at Al Awal Park at King Saud University on Friday evening. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be looking to move four points clear of third-placed Girona when they travel to Andalusia for Thursday's meeting with Almeria. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk On Friday evening, we will see Al Ettifaq face relegation candidates Al Okhdood in their penultimate home match of the 2023-24 Saudi Pro League season. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to end a two-match losing streak, Sivasspor will travel to Istanbulspor on Friday afternoon at Esenyurt Necmi Kadioglu Stadium in gameweek 37 of the Turkish Super Lig. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bruno Fernandes is fit to start for Manchester United in tonight's Premier League clash with Newcastle United at Old Trafford. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that Ronald Araujo is "happy" at Camp Nou amid the speculation surrounding his future with the Catalan giants. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erik ten Hag's chances of keeping the managerial position at Manchester United beyond the end of the 2023-24 campaign are reportedly 50-50. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has revealed that he is planning to keep hold of Marc Casado amid the recent speculation surrounding the midfielder's future. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly willing to offer £55m for Jarrad Branthwaite this summer, but Everton value the in-demand centre-back closer to £80m. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is hopeful that Victor Lindelof, Raphael Varane, Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford will all be available for the FA Cup final against Manchester City. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly reached a decision over a new asking price for Romelu Lukaku. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly planning to hold talks with Thomas Tuchel over the possibility of the German remaining as head coach beyond the end of the campaign. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich are reportedly planning to hold talks with Thomas Tuchel over the possibility of the German remaining as head coach beyond the end of the campaign. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has claimed that the Blues have been 'making investments', rather than spending money, in the transfer market. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have allegedly been in touch with Kieran McKenna's representatives to discuss the possibility of the Ipswich Town head coach replacing Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has given every indication that the club's hierarchy have the 'patience' to keep Mauricio Pochettino as head coach. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Some Manchester United players are allegedly 'reluctant to pass the ball' to Rasmus Hojlund, with a number of the first-team squad having concerns over the Denmark international. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sofyan Amrabat's agent was reportedly in Manchester on Tuesday to hold talks with Manchester United over the future of his client. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly in line to secure a welcome financial boost ahead of filing their next accounts. 15 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders has been announced as the new head coach of Red Bull Salzburg ahead of his exit from Anfield.
Tomorrow at 18:45
L2
Bordeaux Bordeaux
-
sch
Pau Pau
Sun 19 May, 12:30
ERD
PSV PSV
-
sch
Waalwijk Waalwijk