After 90+ minutes of stubborn defending, relentless running, and powerful attacking prowess, The Reds returned from the Westfalenstadion with a healthy 1-1 score, and (as was perceived at the time) an important away goal.
Anticipation and intrigue begins to fill Anfield. Positivity overflowing, flooding surrounding streets of Liverpool with echoes of „You’ll Never Walk Alone.“
8 minutes later and the bubble had been burst by the deadly sting of BVB’s attacking musketeers. The Kop was silenced.
Liverpool were stunned by a clinical Dortmund, and their own drowsy defending. As the referee blows his whistle for half time, the mood in Anfield had depleted enormously. Depleted… But not erased. This is Liverpool, and this Anfield, and with Istanbul nostalgia, belief is forever embedded.
Miraculous Mayhem
Fifteen minutes of Klopp inspiration and then begins a crazy second half. Instantly Emre Can plays 1-2 passes that penetrates the Dortmund team. He places a perfectly weighted through ball to Divock „hero of the week“ Origi, who calmly slots the ball home.
Liverpool need two more. That was until Hummels, a defender with an eye for a pass that would impress the likes of Xabi Alonso and David Beckham, sets Reus through on goal. Reus curls the ball past Mignolet to leave Liverpool with an even bigger mountain to climb.
Three goals required and just thirty minutes remaining. Liverpool needed some magic. How suitable it was for our little Brazillian magician to step forward and give the Reds their first step on the massive ascent. Philippe Coutinho makes it 3-2. If nothing else pride is restored.
Liverpool continued to create chances and Dortmund looked nervous. Klopp was dominating the touchlines, carving a confident figure that was starting to cast a shadow over Thomas Tuchel. There was a feeling at Anfield that Dortmund were against the ropes. It was time for the heavyweights to deliver the killer blows.
Milners corner slices through the front post defence of Dortmund and falls into striking range of Sakho. The big centre smoothly nods the ball home to equalise the tie.
Just one more goal needed but time rapidly slipping away. By now Tuchel had already made all three negative substitutions that had all but nullified the German teams attack. This allowed Liverpool to throw players forward, but it seemed too little too late.
91 minutes on the clock. Free kick to Liverpool just over the half way line. Dortmund looking fragile, but this was surely Liverpool’s last opportunity to progress to the semifinals. Milner plays the ball in to Sturridge, who then plays it back to Milner. Milner takes a touch before chipping a delightful pass to the back post. Time stood still. In slow motion one man rises higher than anybody else. Dejan Lovren connects his head beautifully to send the ball flying into the top corner. Anfield erupts! The players erupt. Dortmund fans stare in disbelief and horror. Jurgen turns to his coaching staff and coolly smiles.
The final whistle is blown. Liverpool had performed another European miracle. One of the most special nights Anfield has ever witnessed and a huge advertisement for the Europa League.
Looking ahead, after knocking out Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool will feel great confidence that they can go on to lift the trophy, and crucially, qualify for next seasons champions league.
Autor: William Boardman
