Georginio Wijnaldum took out his frustration on Barcelona after starting on the bench as his second-half brace helped Liverpool to a stunning Champions League semi-final comeback at Anfield.
The midfielder scored twice in the space of three minutes shortly before the hour to make it 3-0 on the night and 3-3 on aggregate before Divock Origi‘s second of the night in the 79th minute sent Liverpool into the Champions League final.
“Unbelievable,” Wijnaldum told BT Sport. “After the game in Spain, we were confident we could score four at home.
“Once again we showed that everything is possible in football. I was really angry at the manager that he put me on the bench but I had to do something to help the team when I came on.
“We believe it from the start. People from outside (the club), they thought it was not possible but we still managed to do this.”
1/23 Alisson Becker – 8 out of 10
In a game that required a clean sheet he made some crucial saves including one to deny Jordi Alba on the stroke of half-time.
REUTERS
2/23 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8 out of 10
Was strong in clearing the ball and winning defensive headers but was exceptional going forward.
AP
3/23 Joel Matip – 7 out of 10
Partnered van Dijk to perfection and kept a clean sheet against Barcelona.
AFP/Getty Images
4/23 Virgil van Dijk – 7 out of 10
Commanding at the back and didn’t allow Messi to get the better of him, especially when Barca threw it all at them in the dying minutes.
EPA
5/23 Andy Robertson – 6 out of 10
Looked a little slower than usual due to injury but still had a shot saved, made a last-ditch tackle and got stuck into Suarez, all before being subbed at half-time.
PA
6/23 Henderson – 7 out of 10
Played exceptionally well early in the first-half with enterprising runs into the box, one of which led to the opening goal.
Action Images via Reuters
7/23 Fabinho – 7 out of 10
Got stuck right into the contest from the start. He clashed with Suarez, Vidal, Lenglet and Busquets and made lots of good challenges to break down Barcelona’s attacks.
Action Images via Reuters
8/23 Georginio Wijnaldum (substitute) – 9 out of 10
The definition of a super-sub. Two goals in four minutes in the second half drew Liverpool level and Origi finished off the job.
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9/23 James Milner – 6 out of 10
Is a stable presence in the Liverpool mid-field, he threw himself into tackles and was able to supply balls for Mane, Origi and Shaqiri and filled in at left-back when Robertson was subbed off.
Action Images via Reuters
10/23 Xherdan Shaqiri – 7 out of 10
Worked very hard to close down players but lacked control on the ball in the first half but when it mattered, he put a perfect cross in to find Wijnaldum.
REUTERS
11/23 Divock Origi – 9 out of 10
Offered Liverpool some pace at the top and got into the right position to tap-in the opening goal and was the only man alert for Alexander-Arnold’s corner to give Liverpool a winner and send them through to the final.
AP
12/23 Sadio Mane – 7 out of 10
Was sharp up front especially against Roberto and Vidal on Barcelona’s right-hand side and created lots of chances for Liverpool.
EPA
13/23 Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6 out of 10
Made a good save to deny Robertson and was quick off his line when he sensed danger but looked less than his usual quality self.
Action Images via Reuters
14/23 Sergi Roberto – 5 out of 10
Grew into the game at right back and made some good tackles in vital moments.
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15/23 Gerard Pique – 6 out of 10
Was the leader for Barcelona at the back and gave it his all making blocks and crucial times and taking the ball off Mane, Origi and Shaqiri.
Action Images via Reuters
16/23 Clement Lenglet – 6 out of 10
Was a strong presence in the back line and quick out to clear the ball from Liverpool’s strikers.
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
17/23 Jordi Alba – 5 out of 10
Had a tough time in defence when we all know he prefers to bomb forward leaving Busquets to cover him. When he did go forward, he had a couple of chances, but Alisson was there to deny him a goal.
Getty Images
18/23 Arturo Vidal – 6 out of 10
Had a physical game and left it all out on the pitch tackling Mane, Milner, everyone really.
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19/23 Sergio Busquets – 5 out of 10
Didn’t like it when he had to cover for Jordi Alba at left-back and got lost in mid-field.
Action Images via Reuters
20/23 Ivan Rakitic – 5 out of 10
Liverpool kept him quiet all night, he had a couple of decent runs down the wings but had little impact for Barcelona.
EPA
21/23 Philippe Coutinho – 4 out of 10
Was subbed off on the hour mark with the scores level and had one shot saved by Alisson.
EPA
22/23 Lionel Messi – 6 out of 10
Fancy footwork, clinical passes and plenty of shots is par for the course for Messi but he even couldn’t drag Barcelona through to the final.
Getty Images
23/23 Luis Suarez – 6 out of 10
Scrappy, aggressive and the pantomime villain as usual. His battle with Fabinho was a highlight.
Action Images via Reuters
1/23 Alisson Becker – 8 out of 10
In a game that required a clean sheet he made some crucial saves including one to deny Jordi Alba on the stroke of half-time.
REUTERS
2/23 Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8 out of 10
Was strong in clearing the ball and winning defensive headers but was exceptional going forward.
AP
3/23 Joel Matip – 7 out of 10
Partnered van Dijk to perfection and kept a clean sheet against Barcelona.
AFP/Getty Images
4/23 Virgil van Dijk – 7 out of 10
Commanding at the back and didn’t allow Messi to get the better of him, especially when Barca threw it all at them in the dying minutes.
EPA
5/23 Andy Robertson – 6 out of 10
Looked a little slower than usual due to injury but still had a shot saved, made a last-ditch tackle and got stuck into Suarez, all before being subbed at half-time.
PA
6/23 Henderson – 7 out of 10
Played exceptionally well early in the first-half with enterprising runs into the box, one of which led to the opening goal.
Action Images via Reuters
7/23 Fabinho – 7 out of 10
Got stuck right into the contest from the start. He clashed with Suarez, Vidal, Lenglet and Busquets and made lots of good challenges to break down Barcelona’s attacks.
Action Images via Reuters
8/23 Georginio Wijnaldum (substitute) – 9 out of 10
The definition of a super-sub. Two goals in four minutes in the second half drew Liverpool level and Origi finished off the job.
Getty Images
9/23 James Milner – 6 out of 10
Is a stable presence in the Liverpool mid-field, he threw himself into tackles and was able to supply balls for Mane, Origi and Shaqiri and filled in at left-back when Robertson was subbed off.
Action Images via Reuters
10/23 Xherdan Shaqiri – 7 out of 10
Worked very hard to close down players but lacked control on the ball in the first half but when it mattered, he put a perfect cross in to find Wijnaldum.
REUTERS
11/23 Divock Origi – 9 out of 10
Offered Liverpool some pace at the top and got into the right position to tap-in the opening goal and was the only man alert for Alexander-Arnold’s corner to give Liverpool a winner and send them through to the final.
AP
12/23 Sadio Mane – 7 out of 10
Was sharp up front especially against Roberto and Vidal on Barcelona’s right-hand side and created lots of chances for Liverpool.
EPA
13/23 Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 6 out of 10
Made a good save to deny Robertson and was quick off his line when he sensed danger but looked less than his usual quality self.
Action Images via Reuters
14/23 Sergi Roberto – 5 out of 10
Grew into the game at right back and made some good tackles in vital moments.
Getty Images
15/23 Gerard Pique – 6 out of 10
Was the leader for Barcelona at the back and gave it his all making blocks and crucial times and taking the ball off Mane, Origi and Shaqiri.
Action Images via Reuters
16/23 Clement Lenglet – 6 out of 10
Was a strong presence in the back line and quick out to clear the ball from Liverpool’s strikers.
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
17/23 Jordi Alba – 5 out of 10
Had a tough time in defence when we all know he prefers to bomb forward leaving Busquets to cover him. When he did go forward, he had a couple of chances, but Alisson was there to deny him a goal.
Getty Images
18/23 Arturo Vidal – 6 out of 10
Had a physical game and left it all out on the pitch tackling Mane, Milner, everyone really.
Getty Images
19/23 Sergio Busquets – 5 out of 10
Didn’t like it when he had to cover for Jordi Alba at left-back and got lost in mid-field.
Action Images via Reuters
20/23 Ivan Rakitic – 5 out of 10
Liverpool kept him quiet all night, he had a couple of decent runs down the wings but had little impact for Barcelona.
EPA
21/23 Philippe Coutinho – 4 out of 10
Was subbed off on the hour mark with the scores level and had one shot saved by Alisson.
EPA
22/23 Lionel Messi – 6 out of 10
Fancy footwork, clinical passes and plenty of shots is par for the course for Messi but he even couldn’t drag Barcelona through to the final.
Getty Images
23/23 Luis Suarez – 6 out of 10
Scrappy, aggressive and the pantomime villain as usual. His battle with Fabinho was a highlight.
Action Images via Reuters
The fourth goal was the standout moment as quick-thinking from Trent Alexander-Arnold from a corner set up Origi for an easy finish.
With Barca still setting up their defence and walking back slowly, the 20-year-old right-back spotted Origi completely unmarked and played a quick low cross for the Belgian to finish.
“I think it was just instinctive,” Alexander-Arnold said. “It was one of those moments where you see the opportunity.”
Origi paid tribute to his team-mates and also the fans who created the atmosphere on which Liverpool thrived.
“I think it was more about the team,” he said. “We fought so hard. We fought until the end. It shows we have a good mix of talent and hard work.”
Asked to comment on the passion shown by the fans, he added: “It’s just special, you can feel it, you can hear it.”
Liverpool had started the match without Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, and then lost Andy Robertson to an injury which brought Wijnaldum into the game at half-time.
The Dutchman had already got himself ready to come on once when Jordan Henderson went down under a heavy challenge, but the club captain was able to see the game out.
“I don’t think many people gave us a chance,” Henderson said. “We knew that it would be difficult but it was still possible for us.
Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates scoring his second goal for Liverpool (Reuters)
“The belief we’ve got in the changing room. At Anfield, we knew we could put on something special.
“We wanted to start fast, we got an early goal which helped. We knew that if we gave everything, showed a bit of personality, a bit of heart (we could win).”
