Miracle like back then?

Liverpool must now conjure up the “Barca myth”

Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp (left) is hoping for a miracle like the one against Barcelona.(Bild: APA/AFP/Oli SCARFF)

After the 3-0 defeat in the first leg, Liverpool FC's players must hope for a miracle like the one they once pulled off against FC Barcelona. The pressure is mounting for Jürgen Klopp and his men. The "Reds" lost the lead in the league with the defeat against Crystal Palace, coached by Oliver Glasner, and now even face the threat of being knocked out of the UEFA Europa League.

The situation is reminiscent of the legendary semi-final clash against FC Barcelona in 2019, when Liverpool went down 3:0 at Camp Nuo but managed to advance thanks to the brace from Divock Origi and Georginio Wijnaldum and were ultimately crowned Champions League winners. 

After Lionel Messi's spectacular free-kick from over 25 meters, which sealed the 3:0 final score in the first leg, Liverpool's hopes of success in the Champions League faded. Without the injured Mohamed Salah, the task seemed even more impossible. Nevertheless, that night was to become a mythical one at Anfield Road.

(Bild: APA/AFP/Paul ELLIS)

Door opener Origi
Liverpool played with pressure right from the start and took the lead in the seventh minute of the game through Origi, who confidently converted a shot that was deflected into the middle. The comeback really got going when Wijnaldum came on at half-time. After a low cross from home-grown Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Dutchman fired home from the penalty spot to make it 2:0. Just two minutes later, he rose high to meet Xherdan Shaqiri's cross and seal his brace.

"Giants of mentality"
The English side now had a good 30 minutes left to ensure they progressed in normal time. But they would not need that long: After Alexander-Arnold had the presence of mind to quickly execute a corner and Origi scored, the miracle at Anfield was a reality after 79 minutes of play. After the game, Klopp raved about his "mental giants" and said he would remember this game forever.

May 7, 2019: Jürgen Klopp celebrates with his "mentality giants" after the miracle against Barcelona.(Bild: APA/AFP/Paul ELLIS)

No home game
The only problem for Thursday's game: the second leg will not take place at Anfield Road, but at the Stadio di Bergamo. Despite this, the English side are unlikely to have bad memories of Lombardy, having secured a 5-0 thumping in their last meeting.