Liverpool sink ‘Yellow Submarine’

Roberto Firmino joins Daniel Sturridge in celebrating the England striker's decisive goal that put Liverpool ahead on aggregate against Villarreal at Anfield on Thursday night. Photo: Phil Noble, Reuters

Roberto Firmino joins Daniel Sturridge in celebrating the England striker's decisive goal that put Liverpool ahead on aggregate against Villarreal at Anfield on Thursday night. Photo: Phil Noble, Reuters

Published May 5, 2016

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The pace and skill of Liverpool sunk Villarreal’s “Yellow Submarine” on Thursday night as Jurgen Klopp’s team advanced to their fourth Europa League final with a 3-0 win at Anfield.

An own goal from Bruno Soriano in the seventh minute and second-half strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana saw the Reds win 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-final second leg.

Liverpool never lost a final in the competition’s previous incarnation as the Uefa Cup, winning the title in 1973, 1976 and 2001, and they will hope to equal the record of four-times champions Sevilla, who beat Shakhtar Donetsk 3-1 in Spain on Thursday to win 5-3 on aggregate and go through to the May 18 decider in Basel, Switzerland.

The ingenuity of Liverpool midfielders Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho caused havoc in the Villarreal defence, with the Brazilian duo’s movement and speed across the ground rattling the Spaniards throughout.

And it took just seven minutes for the Reds to make a breakthrough when right back Nathaniel Clyne whipped in a threatening cross that was palmed away by Villarreal goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

But the ball fell to Firmino, whose chip found Sturridge, and while the English striker missed the bobbling ball, it ricocheted off Bruno into the net.

Liverpool should’ve doubled their advantage six minutes later when captain James Milner threaded a wonderful pass to Lallana, who couldn’t turn it in from close range.

Villarreal’s DR Congo striker Cedric Bakambu nearly had an opportunity inside the Liverpool box after halftime, but defender Dejan Lovren quickly closed him down with a timely tackle.

Klopp would’ve been on tenterhooks as his team missed chance after chance in the second half, with Coutinho, Milner and Sturridge (twice) unable to finish.

But the English front-man eventually delivered the goal that put his team ahead on aggregate in the 63rd minute when Firmino fought hard to get a touch on the edge of the Villarreal box, and Sturridge kept his cool to slot the ball past Areola.

And when Victor Ruiz was red-carded for a second bookable offence after a foul on Lallana with 19 minutes left, it signalled the end of the Villarreal challenge.

Liverpool, though, made sure that there were no late dramas as Firmino once again had a hand in the move as he beat a defender and delivered a square ball from the byline to Sturridge, who again couldn’t bundle the ball into the net.

But Lallana showed terrific skill to flick the ball in with the outside of his boot to send the Anfield crowd – who belted out a moving rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” before kickoff – into a frenzy.

Liverpool have blown hot and cold this season, which is why they are currently eighth in the Premier League. But when their attacking force of Coutinho, Firmino and Lallana are on song, with Sturridge in tune too, they are hard to stop.

Now they at least have a chance of winning silverware in Klopp’s first season at the helm after losing the League Cup final to Manchester City on penalties in February.

In the other semi-final, Sevilla came back from a 1-1 halftime score to beat Shakhtar 3-1 on the night and 5-3 on aggregate to reach their third consecutive Europa League final.

Kevin Gameiro grabbed a brace for the Spanish outfit, with Mariano adding the third, while Eduardo equalised for the Ukrainians.

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