On the day after the Reds secured their passage to the Champions League final, it's time for your Liverpool FC morning headlines.
Spanish media blown away by Liverpool player who 'ended the dream' for Villarreal
Liverpool booked their place in the Champions League final after a thrilling clash against Villarreal on Tuesday night. The Reds claimed a 3-2 victory over the Spanish outfit in the second leg of their semi-final, to book a place in the final in Paris later this month.
Jurgen Klopp’s side initially trailed 2-0 thanks to early goals from Boulaye Dia and Francis Coquelin. But Liverpool responded in the second half, with goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane seeing the visitors over the line. Plenty of Spanish media outlets were in attendance to watch Liverpool beat Villarreal.
Marca journalist Diego Pico wrote: “It is an achievement. What Villarreal have done in this Champions League season is football history. They are not going to play in the final. But what can be said about them, the example is huge. For everyone.
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“Unai Emery is a genius, Raul Albiol is a titan, Pau Torres is a top-level centre-back, Etienne Capoue and Francis Coquelin are two warriors, Dani Parejo is elite, Giovani Lo Celso is a barbarity and Gerard Moreno is all those things. Villarreal won't be in the final because Liverpool are better. That's it, but the first half won't be forgotten by anyone. Not even by Jurgen Klopp himself. There's no way it could be.
“Luis Diaz ended the dream. He stepped onto the pitch and changed everything. The Colombian arrived at Liverpool a few months ago for around 50 million euros. And he is already looking cheap. His entrance onto the stage was definitive. He put fear into the hosts and scored one of those goals that takes you straight to Paris. He is tremendous and should be applauded.”
Read our full round-up of what the Spanish media had to say HERE.
'I never said this before' - Mohamed Salah reveals his pre-season Liverpool wish after Villarreal win
Mohamed Salah has revealed he set himself a target of 40 goals and 15 assists before the current season got underway.
The Egyptian was unable to get on the scoresheet during Liverpool's 3-2 win over Villarreal on Tuesday evening, though won't have been too concerned as Jurgen Klopp's side booked their place in the final of the Champions League. Manchester City or Real Madrid now await in Paris at the end of the month.
Salah scored in all but one of the Reds' Champions League group stage matches this term and was also on target in the Round of 16 first leg away to Inter Milan. The 29-year-old failed to find the back of the net in either leg against last night's opponents, though provided an assist both home and away.
His contribution in Spain yesterday evening has taken Salah's season tally in all competitions to 30 goals and 15 assists, leaving the prolific forward ten strikes shy of his pre-planned goal. Asked by BT Sport if he usually sits down to plan out his ideal campaign, he responded: "Always. Before the season starts, I know what I want individually and collectively.
"I have big expectations for myself. Honestly, I never said this before but before the season I said ‘Okay, I will go for 40 goals this season and 10, 15 assists’. Now I’ve reached the assists I need to focus on the goals now! I think now Trent is going to be angry because I have the most assists in the Premier League but I will go for everything. Top assists is not something really big, top-scorer is always something really big. Today, when I gave the ball to Fab it changed everything. Assists count for sure, goals as well."
Read the full story, including what Salah makes of Liverpool's quadruple chances, HERE.
