Surprised from the start by a goal from Boulaye Dia, then just before the break on a header from Francis Coquelin on a new service from his French compatriot Etienne Capoue (40th), Jurgen Klopp's men replied on the return from the locker room, with three goals signed Fabinho (62nd), Luis Diaz (67th), and Sadio Mané (74th), on a hazardous exit from Geronimo Rulli.

Villareal's French midfielder Francis Coquelin (d) scores the second goal at home against Liverpool in the Champions League semi-final second leg on May 3, 2022 Paul ELLIS AFP

The Reds will have to wait twenty-four hours to know their opponent in the final, on May 28 at the Stade de France: Manchester City, winner 4-3 in an epic first leg, travels Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) to the Santiago-Bernabéu to face the King of Europe, Real Madrid and its thirteen continental crowns.

What a fright!

The ogre Liverpool, announced arch-favorite of this double confrontation against the modest "Yellow Submarine" and contender for the title, wavered in the wet cauldron of the Ceramica for 45 minutes on Tuesday evening, before establishing his superiority on the return locker rooms.

The entry of Luis Diaz, who replaced Diogo Jota in the 46th minute, was decisive: the Colombian immediately brought danger in front of the cages of Geronimo Rulli, and scored the second goal for the Reds.

Liverpool's Colombian midfielder Luis Diaz equalizes (2-2) on Villareal's pitch in the Champions League semi-final second leg, May 3, 2022 Paul ELLIS AFP

Villarreal, the epic stops

Winning bet for Klopp, who could only see from the bench the inferiority of his team in the first period.

Because the Spanish family club from an average town of 50,000 inhabitants, however modest it may be, has always believed in its chances of a final.

Witness the "Si se puede!"

("If, it's possible", in Spanish) chanted by the Ceramica stadium even before kick-off, and which redoubled in intensity during the first goal signed Dia on a nice delivery from Etienne Capoue, author of two assists but who will end up excluded in the 86th after a second yellow card.

"We are already going through a historic moment," said Emery Monday at a pre-match press conference.

"But Tuesday, we will not play just to be proud. We will play to qualify for the final," he warned.

Villareal coach Unai Emery during the Champions League semi-final second leg at home against Liverpool on May 3, 2022 Paul ELLIS AFP

After resisting Manchester United in the group stages, and after knocking out Juventus Turin and Bayern Munich in the knockout stage, the men in yellow almost snagged a new big fish on their roster.

But the epic ends there.

Liverpool, quadruple on the horizon?

As in 2005-2006, when Villarreal had reached the last four of the C1 for its first participation in the competition before falling against Arsenal (1-0, 0-0), the course is stopped one step from the final in 2022.

The "Yellow Submarine" eventually sank.

Liverpool can still be described as unsinkable, after this incredible turnaround which saved them from a resounding disappointment in the second period.

Thanks to this ticket for the Stade de France, the English club is still in the running for a historic quadruple, with a League Cup already acquired, the FA Cup, the championship and the Champions League.

The joy of the Liverpool players, after the 3rd goal scored by Senegalese striker Sadio Mané (c), on the Villareal field, during the semi-final second leg of the Champions League, May 3, 2022 Paul ELLIS AFP

But Reds fans dream above all of a new continental consecration, after that gleaned in 2019 against Tottenham.

The "best team in the world", as Unai Emery called it on Monday, has only one game to win to justify its title in the eyes of the world.

© 2022 AFP