Champions League: Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool - Reds through to final

That is all from us for tonight. But you have less than 24 hours before we're back again to see who Liverpool's opponents will be in this season's Champions League final - Manchester City or Real Madrid.

Get a good night's sleep. We go again on the morrow!

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, speaking to BT Sport: "It is outstanding. We made it pretty tricky for ourselves. We knew before that these kind of things can happen. In life it is always about how you react when things don't go your way. A goal conceded after two or three minutes is obviously the opposite of what you wanted. Momentum on their side. Respect to Villarreal, the team, the coach, it is unbelievable what they set up. They put us under pressure, man for man all over the pitch. We did not play football at all. I told the boys 'they have momentum but they don't own it, we can get it back'. We had to play in the spaces and force our way into a game that did not start well. All of a sudden, when we broke the lines and found spaces and were more flexible and not fixed on positions, all of a sudden we were in the game. We scored goals and made it happen.

"The thing at half-time is that we knew what was wrong, it was obvious, but we did not have a situation to show when it was right. We were calm. If Villarreal play the second half like they play the first and we do the same they will be in the final. But we are still here so I think we could give it a try. This is what we did.

"Yes I will watch it [the other semi-final]. Whoever it will be it will be massive. Whoever wins tomorrow will enjoy it and then face each other in Paris."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has reached the final of the Champions League for the fourth time as a manager, now the joint-most of any coach in the competition along with Alex Ferguson, Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi.

Here is the Reds boss...

Villarreal boss Unai Emery, speaking to BT Sport: "When you have lost the moment is sad for everybody. We can't be happy because of the way we were doing good matches, good battles against Juventus, Bayern Munich and then some excellence against Liverpool. They deserve to play in the final. First half tonight we showed everybody we are a good team as well and we can have chances too. But the difference in two matches was with them."

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, speaking to BT Sport: "It is great to be in the final. Third time in five years is unbelievable. Everybody is happy inside. I am sure they will celebrate, drink a little bit. But we have a game against Spurs so we have to focus on this as well. Tomorrow is a new day and we go from there.

"It was tough in the first half but we go to the dressing room and the gaffer talked to us. There is character and personality in the dressing room. We are a top team at a top level so that is why we can strike back after losing 2-0 in the first half.

"We fight for everything. We win one trophy, now we are in another final, we keep fighting in the Premier League. I focus, train hard and try to recover. I know what I want and hopefully I can get that.

"Always before the season I know what I want individually and collectively. I am below what I want (with 30 goals and 15 assists). I have never said this before, but before the season starts I say I want to go for 40 goals and maybe 15 assists. I have hit the assists so I need to focus on the goals now!

"The quadruple is the target now. Maybe not at the start of the season. I am always honest and focus on the Champions League and Premier League. But now, why not? After we beat City in the FA Cup semi-final [I thought it was on]. After the group stage I thought 'OK, we are going to win the Champions League this year'.

"I want to play Madrid [in the final]. City is a really tough team."

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk, speaking to BT Sport: "Hard work. First-half we should forget as soon as possible. Aggression, on the ball we weren't good enough, the early goal does not help us. We had to dig deep and be very mature. Second half we played outstanding. On the ball, without it we won it back as quickly as possible. It is going to be difficult for them to keep up with the press and the runs. A well-deserved win based on the second half. First half it could be different."

On Jurgen Klopp's half-time team-talk: "He told us to play football, the Liverpool way, how we have all season. They play a high line so with the speed we have we need to mix it up. Also we need to show how much we want to go to the final. Second half we dominated."

On Luis Diaz: "The way he goes one v one, it doesn't really matter who he is facing, he just goes at you without any fear. And if he loses it he wins it back and goes again. That is very difficult to defend."

On the rest of the season: "What we have achieved so far this season cannot be taken for granted. We keep going and have a couple more nice weeks to look forward to. We should enjoy the moment, today, tonight and then focus on Spurs at the weekend.

"Any team that we face in the final of this competition will be a nightmare to play against. We know City but they know us too. We know how intense those games are. Real Madrid is Real Madrid. Such a big club and an in-form striker.

"If you listen to us and the manager that is obvious we don't think about these things (making history). You can dream but you need to be realistic. Football is small margins."

There would have been big disappointment in the Liverpool dressing room at half-time. The players would know they’d underperformed and been off the pace.

In the back of their minds they probably would have been aware Villarreal couldn’t keep that intensity up.

They bossed the second half and Luis Diaz made a big difference.

This is a different Liverpool to recent years because they have that strength in depth, the ability to make changes. Salah, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Thiago were on the bench at the weekend. This is why they’re getting stronger and stronger rand stronger.

The first 45 minutes was just a blip. It happens sometimes and it’s how you respond and they responded brilliantly.

Diaz in the first leg caused Foyth all kinds of problems. He’s been a revelation. We talk about players needing time to bed in. He’s settled in immediately. That’s to Liverpool's gain.

So Liverpool's potential quadruple remains on.

The Reds have now become the first ever English club to reach the final of the European Cup/Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season.

On Liverpool playing in every game this season they could have

It’s an enormous achievement. Their mentality is phenomenal. It comes from the manager and it’s a fantastic group of players who don’t know when they’re beaten. The resilience wouldn’t surprise any of us. It’s about finding a way. This team are excellent at it. Now it’s about finishing off the season.

It’s OK playing in every game but they’ve come so far there will be a determination to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup and make it a clean sweep.

Former Man Utd defender Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport: "Diaz was the difference maker. His ability to go one v one. He came on and was mesmeric. His dribbling, how he unnerves defenders, his trickery... He's a fabulous player and one of - if not the - signing of the season for me. His team-mates love him and the energy he's giving off."

Ex Liverpool forward Michael Owen: "I've never seen a guy come in and hit the ground running like him. To pick up the way Liverpool play straight away like he has is incredible. And now there is no question about it, he's a starter."

Former Reds striker Peter Crouch: "In the final, he starts. He's come in and invigorated the whole dressing room.I spoke to Jurgen Klopp about him and he says he enjoys his football every day."

SMS Message: Mentality monsters? That's some serious understatement! Get the engraver in now! from John G

Mentality monsters? That's some serious understatement! Get the engraver in now!

It’s unbelievable. Liverpool could still come away with only one trophy. The players will double down and finish the season as strong as they can.

Their strength in depth is key. Luis Diaz was a positive sub and changed the game. He was super effective. The competition for places puts them in a great place. It looks like City will win every game but Liverpool have to win every game and hope they slip up.

The players will think if they finish second in the Premier League and get pipped in the Champions League final this season will be a disappointment. They’ll feel that but it can’t be, can it, for their fans. To us outsiders, impartial observers, it’s been a phenomenal season.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, speaking to BT Sport: "We never seem to make these Champions League semi-finals easy for ourselves. Difficult, really difficult. We came here and they played very well first-half. We regrouped at half-time and got the game by the scruff of the neck. We did what we needed to do.

"We expected it but sometimes you can't control the game how you want to. They scored early doors, which is what they wanted to do. But we got it done.

"We never played football that first half and didn't pick up any second balls. They played the game they wanted to and we allowed them to do that. Second half we came our and controlled the goal better. One bad half over two legs, we can concede that to get the job done.

"It is always nice to get the job done on Tuesday, We can watch the game tomorrow knowing we will be there. Either opponent deserves to get to the final."

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho: "They gave it everything in the first half. We knew the first 15 minutes would be really important. They scored early and it gave them confidence and the fans felt it. It was a hard first half for us, maybe the hardest of the season. But you have to be ready for everything and try to play football. After our first goal we controlled the game. That is it and we are in the final."

Former Liverpool striker Michael Owen on BT Sport: "Liverpool earned that. They showed their class. I'd love to know what Jurgen Klopp said at half-time. It was such a different second half."

Former Reds striker Peter Crouch: "Luis Diaz changed the game. He was fantastic as soon as he came on. A complete game changer. To come out and play the way they did in the second half - they are deservedly in the final. They are on the verge of greatness. There are legends all over this football club and this lot are right up there with them."

The last club to win a Champions League knockout match after trailing by at least a two-goal margin was Atlético Madrid, away at Liverpool in the round of last 16 in 2019-20 (3-2 after extra time).

It was far from easy but they got there in the end. Brilliant second half, they needed that second half. Villarreal pushed them all the way.

I didn’t see this coming after the first game. Villarreal had to go for broke. Liverpool looked rattled. I can’t remember Liverpool looking rattled like that in recent times.

We know they have characters in the dressing room but can they respond we wondered at half-time? They controlled the second half.

Rulli had a nightmare. Second half they were outstanding and they could have won it by more. They did what they had to do. We didn’t expect them to get through this way. Sometimes it’s not a bad thing when you have to suffer. It showed their resilience.

Liverpool have reached the European Cup/Champions League final for the 10th time, only trailing Real Madrid (16), AC Milan (11) and Bayern Munich (11).

They will be hugely disappointed, but the Villarreal fans still recognise just how big a deal it is for their club to reach this stage of the Champions League. They have stuck around after full-time to applaud their side as they walk around the pitch. It's pride fuelling that.

What a thrilling and bonkers game of football.

I mean, talk about a game of two halves.

Villarreal scored twice in a first half they dominated to restore parity in the tie.

Liverpool came out swinging in a big way. Three unanswered goals and they are on their way to Paris.