Liverpool book a date with Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Final

Liverpool have been the surprise package in this year’s UEFA Champions League tournament. They have swooped past some teams in style with their free-scoring abilities. The Jurgen press has been effective in their games as they have knocked an attacking team like Manchester City and beating Roma 5-2 in the first leg of the semifinals. It was not going to be easy for them to replicate that scoreline especially considering what Roma did against Barcelona. They were aware of the fact that they could not afford to rest and allow Roma to come to them and counter on the break. Klopp asked his men for more and Sadio Mane delivered the first goal for Liverpool. It was a mountain to climb for Roma who needed to score 4 to qualify without a reply from Liverpool. They reduced that goal count to just 3 when Milner scored an own goal from a dangerous cross by Florenzi on the right.

Roma failed to capitalize on the countless chances that they were creating and they were punished by Wijnaldum who scored Liverpool’s second of the night. From then, it was all Roma. Daniel De Rossi showed his class as he was instigating the attacks by his Pirlo-like passes as well as controlling the tempo. Roma looked a different team in the second period which gave them confidence leading to Dzeko’s goal. Time was running out for the Italian team with the scoreline at 2-2. Nainggolan did what he does best, as he connected to a pass from the left and he scored a 25-yard drive past Karius.

Game on, it was. Roma created chances in a match that was full of penalty claims by both teams. The referee finally gave a penalty to Roma and Nainggolan who scored in the 94th minute. All they needed was just a goal to take the tie to extra-time. It would have been another amazing comeback but they were out of time. The referee blew the whistle soon after Liverpool played from the center. What an amazing run it has been for Klopp and his team? They have secured a medal for themselves. It is just a matter of finding out whether it will be gold or silver as they take on the Los Blancos in the final.

Oxlade-Chamberlain to miss FIFA World Cup

What a sad day it has been for new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after finding out that his dreams of playing in a major international tournament will not come true once more. The midfielder joined Liverpool from Arsenal last summer and slowly found his rhythm before claiming a place in the starting XI for Liverpool. He dispatched the indispensable Dutchman, Wijnaldum, who had been the heart of the Liverpool side since joining from Newcastle. Chamberlain had proved his worth in some of the biggest matches that Liverpool played e.g. the UEFA Champions League clashes against Manchester City where the club was victorious on both occasions. Tuesday night was like any other working day for Chamberlain and little did he know that it was going to be the last time he would kick the ball this season. The player picked up an injury in an attempted challenge on the 18th minute and he went down in tears. He left the pitch on a stretcher and the club had to replace him Wjinaldum.

Chamberlain has been disappointed by this injury and had this to say, “Absolutely devastated to have picked up that injury at such a crucial time in the season. Gutted I won't be able to play any further part now in our Champions League run for Liverpool, and also the World Cup with England.”

This was after finding out the results of an assessment made by the club doctors at Melwood who confirmed that he will be ruled out for the rest of the season. An expected return date was not even set to show how bad his injury really is. Now he will have to sit on the sidelines and watch his teammates push for the UEFA Champions League. Will he join his teammate Lallana in rehab in Africa? We hear they have some of the best facilities in the world in Cape Town.