Europa League - 2nd Leg
LiverpoolLiverpool4B DortmundBorussia Dortmund3

Liverpool 4-3 Borussia Dortmund (agg: 5-4)

By Phil McNultyChief football writer at Anfield
Dejan Lovren scores Liverpool's winner against Borussia Dortmund
Dejan Lovren scored his first goal of the season with his winner against Dortmund

Liverpool staged one of the most dramatic comebacks Anfield has seen to overcome Borussia Dortmund in a classic and reach the Europa League semi-finals.

Jurgen Klopp's side were twice left needing three goals to go through in the face of Dortmund's rapier attacks - but climbed the mountain twice with Dejan Lovren's injury-time header from James Milner's cross concluding a night packed with drama and emotion.

Anfield commemorated the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 96 supporters died, with an impeccably observed minute's silence before kick-off - followed by a thriller that will be recalled for generations for sheer excitement and a finale that sent Anfield wild.

The Bundesliga side struck twice inside the first nine minutes through Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - both after swift breaks, with the latter sealed by a crisp 14-yard strike - to take a 3-1 aggregate lead in the tie.

The German side missed numerous more chances to extend their lead as Liverpool struggled to cope with their attacking threat.

How good is Liverpool's record in European competitions?

The Reds slowly grew into the game, creating and missing a succession of chances. Even when Divock Origi gave them hope early in the second half - slotting the ball through the legs of keeper Roman Weidenfeller - it seemed to have been snuffed out by Marco Reus's cool 57th-minute finish.

They still needed three goals with less than 25 minutes left but Philippe Coutinho's low shot cut the deficit and when Mamadou Sakho headed in after 77 minutes, Liverpool stood on the brink of something remarkable.

Amid riotous scenes, Lovren rose to head home in stoppage time in front of the Kop to spark chaotic celebrations and seal a win that will take its place in Anfield folklore.

'You could feel it, hear it, smell it' - Klopp likens win to Istanbul 2005

Relive the goals from BBC Radio 5 live

Liverpool fan to call newborn baby Dejan

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren (left) and Reds boss Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp (right) was appointed Liverpool manager in October 2015

The Klopp effect

Klopp received a rapturous reception from the fans who idolised him in Dortmund when he walked along the Anfield touchline before kick-off - but he then inflicted agony on the club he took to two Bundesliga titles and the Champions League final.

As Liverpool chased the game in the closing stages, Klopp was almost wound up to the point of frenzy, turning around to the crowd beneath Anfield's directors' box whirling his arms in encouragement and gesturing wildly for more vocal support.

It kept the momentum going and Liverpool's supporters believing right through the dark moments when Dortmund controlled the game, inspiring his players to that sensational finale.

The turnaround revived memories of the so-called 'Miracle of Istanbul' in 2005 when they came from 3-0 down at half-time to win the Champions League final against AC Milan.

This may not bring a trophy, but Klopp can now take his place alongside other Liverpool managers who have their names alongside famous victories.

Liverpool celebrate their victory over Borussia Dortmund
Liverpool celebrate their victory over Borussia Dortmund in front of the Kop

Take a bow, Liverpool

When Klopp urged Liverpool's players to take a bow in front of the Kop after they claimed a 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion in injury time earlier this season, he was mocked and the gesture was taken as a signal of how low expectations had fallen.

The bow was back at the final whistle here and no-one would begrudge Klopp or anyone else for taking in the acclaim.

When Klopp took over from sacked Brendan Rodgers in October, he set about rebuilding the relationship between Liverpool's players and disillusioned supporters. He has already forged the bond and nights like this will only cement it further.

Liverpool could have gone under when they needed three goals to go through but they created a host of chances throughout the game and not for one moment did they resemble a team who felt the task was beyond them.

On and on they came against a Dortmund side who, while dangerous in attack, gave Liverpool a chance at the back all night - one chance too many in the end.

Anfield has seen many great nights and this can be added to the list.

Liverpool still have problems

It almost seems an insult to suggest it after the feast of football witnessed, but for all the drama and the surge of attacking football that eventually swept Dortmund aside, Liverpool still look so vulnerable at the back.

Sakho is a fans' favourite and contributed a goal but he was guilty of poor positioning that contributed to all three Dortmund goals.

With left-back Alberto Moreno also a weak link, Klopp has work to do in the defensive areas - but no-one was too concerned with that after a truly remarkable night.

Liverpool's greatest comebacks

The victory over Dortmund continued a long tradition of famous and emotional European nights for Liverpool.

The most memorable of these surely remains the 2005 Champions League final, when Rafael Benitez's team came from 3-0 down at half-time to draw 3-3 with AC Milan before winning the match on penalties. Liverpool fans often talk about the spirit of Istanbul - and it was clearly in evidence on Thursday.

Liverpool won Europe's top competition for a fifth time with victory in Istanbul
Liverpool won Europe's top competition for a fifth time with victory in Istanbul

But it is not the only memorable European night for the club. In December 2004, Liverpool needed to win by a margin of two clear goals against Olympiakos to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Rivaldo put the Greek side ahead but Liverpool fought back with Steven Gerrard scoring a late winner.

In 1977, Liverpool returned to Anfield for the second leg of a European Cup tie against French side St-Etienne trailing 1-0.

The Reds took the lead but needed to score twice more after Dominique Bathenay's equaliser. However, goals from Ray Kennedy and super-sub David Fairclough ensured they did just that.

The stats you need to know

  • Divock Origi has netted four goals in his past three Liverpool games after failing to score in nine games previous to that
  • James Milner has now been involved in more Liverpool goals than any other player in 2015-16 (19 - seven goals, 12 assists)
  • Liverpool have never lost at home to German opposition in European competition (W11 D3)
  • Liverpool's four goals came from their only four shots on target in the entire game
  • The Reds conceded three goals at Anfield in a European tie for only the sixth time in their history
  • Aubameyang has now scored 37 goals in 44 games for Borussia Dortmund this season
  • Dortmund scored more goals (2) in the opening nine minutes of the game on Thursday than German opposition had managed in 13 previous trips to Anfield (1).

What next?

Liverpool will be in Friday's draw for the last four of the Europa League. That will be covered in Sportsday on the BBC Sport website.

Klopp's team return to Premier League action when they play at Bournemouth on Sunday, with kick-off at 13:30 BST.

Dortmund, who are seven points behind leaders Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, host Hamburg on Sunday.

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 22Mignolet
  • 2Clyne
  • 6Lovren
  • 17SakhoBooked at 90mins
  • 18Moreno
  • 7Milner
  • 23CanSubstituted forLeivaat 80'minutes
  • 20LallanaSubstituted forAllenat 62'minutes
  • 11FirminoSubstituted forSturridgeat 62'minutes
  • 10Coutinho
  • 27Origi

Substitutes

  • 15Sturridge
  • 21Leiva
  • 24Allen
  • 37Skrtel
  • 44B Smith
  • 52Ward
  • 54Ojo

B Dortmund

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 1Weidenfeller
  • 26PiszczekBooked at 75mins
  • 25Papastathopoulos
  • 15HummelsBooked at 53mins
  • 29SchmelzerBooked at 90mins
  • 27CastroSubstituted forGündoganat 82'minutes
  • 33Weigl
  • 10Mkhitaryan
  • 23KagawaSubstituted forGinterat 77'minutes
  • 11ReusSubstituted forRamosat 83'minutes
  • 17Aubameyang

Substitutes

  • 6Bender
  • 8Gündogan
  • 18Sahin
  • 20Ramos
  • 22Pulisic
  • 28Ginter
  • 38Bürki
Referee:
Cüneyt Çakir
Attendance:
42,984

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamB Dortmund
Possession
Home58%
Away42%
Shots
Home21
Away12
Shots on Target
Home4
Away6
Corners
Home11
Away2
Fouls
Home12
Away17

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Liverpool 4, Borussia Dortmund 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Liverpool 4, Borussia Dortmund 3.

  3. Post update

    Attempt missed. Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Lucas Leiva (Liverpool).

  5. Post update

    Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  6. Post update

    Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Lukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund).

  8. Goal!

    Goal! Liverpool 4, Borussia Dortmund 3. Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by James Milner with a cross following a set piece situation.

  9. Booking

    Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  10. Post update

    Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  11. Post update

    Foul by Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).

  12. Post update

    Foul by Lucas Leiva (Liverpool).

  13. Post update

    Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Dejan Lovren (Liverpool).

  15. Post update

    Adrián Ramos (Borussia Dortmund) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  16. Post update

    Attempt missed. Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by James Milner following a set piece situation.

  17. Post update

    Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund).

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Adrián Ramos replaces Marco Reus.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Borussia Dortmund. Ilkay Gündogan replaces Gonzalo Castro.

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 14th April 2016

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Molde6321107311
2Fenerbahçe62317619
3Ajax61416607
4Celtic6033812-43

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Liverpool624064210
2FC Sion62315509
3Rubin Kazan61326606
4Bordeaux604257-24

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FK Krasnodar641194513
2B Dortmund6312105510
3PAOK Salonika61413307
4FK Qabala6024212-102

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Napoli66002231918
2FC Midtjylland6213612-67
3Club Bruges6123411-75
4Legia Warsaw6114410-64

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Rapid Vienna6501106415
2Villarreal6411126613
3Viktoria Plzen6114810-24
4Dinamo Minsk6105311-83

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Sporting Braga641174313
2Marseille6402127512
3Slovan Liberec621368-27
4FC Groningen602428-62

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lazio6420136714
2Saint-Étienne623110739
3Dnipropetrovsk621368-27
4Rosenborg6024412-82

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Lokomotiv Moscow6321127511
2Sporting63121411310
3Besiktas62317619
4Skenderbeu6105413-93

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1FC Basel6411105513
2Fiorentina6312116510
3Lech Poznan612326-45
4Belenenses612328-65

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Tottenham6411126613
2Anderlecht631286210
3Monaco613259-46
4FK Qarabag611448-44

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Schalke64201531214
2Sparta Prague6330105512
3Asteras Tripolis6114412-84
4Apoel Nicosia6105312-93

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ath Bilbao6411168813
2Augsburg6303121119
3Partizan Belgrade63031014-49
4AZ Alkmaar6114813-54
View full Europa League tables

Elsewhere on the BBC