Liverpool are enjoying a sensational 2018-19 season under manager Jürgen Klopp. Despite putting up a tally of 97 points on the board, the Merseyside team could not topple the domestic treble-winning side from the blue half of Manchester led by Pep Guardiola.
Even though the Reds could not win the much desired Premier League trophy that their fans desperately want after a wait of almost 3 decades, they look the favourites on paper to win the Champions League over fellow English team Tottenham Hotspur and in the process winning their sixth European Cup. The road to the final was not easy for the Reds as they had to pull off a miraculous comeback against the Spanish giants Barcelona after losing to them 3-0 at the Camp Nou and turning the three-goal deficit around by winning 4-0 at Anfield.
This has truly been a special season for Liverpool. We would take a look at 5 memorable last-minute goals that helped them put up a record points tally as runners up in a Premier League season and qualify for the Champions League final once again:
#5 Roberto Firmino - 90+1' (Liverpool 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain)
Going into the first match of the Champions League Group stage Liverpool were missing the vital piece of their dangerous front three Roberto Firmino, who was placed on the bench due to an eye injury, but the replacement in the form of Daniel Sturridge stepped up provided the team with a goal in the 30th minute. James Milner soon doubled their lead from the penalty spot in the 36th minute.
However, PSG did not give up and a late run in the box by Thomas Meunier in the 40th minute helped them open their scoring. In the 80th minute, PSG leveled the match when Neymar went on a defence-splitting run and assisted Kylian Mbappe.
Meanwhile, Liverpool had brought on Roberto Firmino who was looking fine despite the eye injury suffered in the previous match in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.
The match had entered added time when Firmino entered PSG's 18-yard box and twisted his way through their defence and managed to get a shot off which found its way in the bottom corner of the net.
#4 Daniel Sturridge - 89' (Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool)
Liverpool were enjoying a great start to their season winning every single game up until they met Eden Hazard. Liverpool were beaten at Anfield in the Carabao Cup by Chelsea due to the Belgian wizard and a few days later both teams faced off once again in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
The Liverpool defence wanted to keep Hazard quiet this match but the Chelsea winger went on one of his trademark runs and rattled the back of Liverpool's net once again in a matter of days.
In a last-ditch effort, Klopp threw on another striker in the form of Daniel Sturridge in the 86th minute in place of James Milner. In the 89th minute when all looked done and dusted Sturridge in a moment of individual brilliance curled a rocket from 25 yards into the top right corner of Kepa's net. This goal kept Liverpool's undefeated run and their hopes of lifting the title alive.
#3 Divock Origi - 86' (Newcastle United 2-3 Liverpool)
After a tough 3-0 defeat at Nou Camp at the hands of Barcelona and Lionel Messi, Liverpool were going in this must-win match against former manager Rafa Benitez and his well-drilled Newcastle team to keep them in the hunt for the title against the ruthless Manchester City side.
They got off to a good start with Virgil van Dijk scoring early. But the early lead was cancelled by Christian Atsu in the 20th minute. Liverpool got their lead back through Mohammed Salah in the 28th minute. Within 10 minutes of the start of the second half, Solomon Rondon levelled the scores once more.
In the hunt of a winner, Salah rushed into the Newcastle's goalkeeper Martin Dubravka and got a serious knock on the head which when looked at later was a concussion. He had to leave the pitch on a stretcher and was seen visibly shedding tears. Divock Origi came on for him.
When it looked like Liverpool's title ambition was about to take a serious hit, in the 86th minute Liverpool won a freekick and Xherdan Shaqiri whipped a cross into the box which was met with the head of Divock Origi. The Belgian forward made no mistakes and sealed the three points for his team.
#2 Toby Alderweireld OG - 90' (Liverpool 2-1 Tottenham)
In a crucial game in the context of the title race in which it seemed Manchester City were never going to make a mistake, getting three points in every outing was very crucial for Klopp's men.
It never seemed as important as in the game versus Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield. Liverpool grabbed an early lead when Andy Robertson assisted Roberto Firmino in the 16th minute. The rest of the game was mostly quiet but a quick piece of thinking by Harry Kane resulted in Tottenham's equalizer when he took a quick freekick after being fouled by Jordan Henderson near the halfway line starting a counter-attack which was finished by a tap in from Lucas Moura.
In a last-ditch effort to win the game, Klopp threw on Origi and Fabinho in place of Henderson and Milner. Liverpool were desperately searching for the winner when a loopy ball played towards the far post was headed back towards goal by Mo Salah and was turned in unfortunately by Toby Alderweireld.
#1 Divock Origi - 90+5' (Liverpool 1-0 Everton)
No other derby in England is as fierce as the Merseyside derby. The city is divided into red and blue halves and the animosity looked pretty clear in this match. The closely located rivals faced off in a rather dull match apart from the end.
The match overall was a stalemate and the Liverpool's forwards did not look in good touch. An amazing save by Alisson from a point-blank shot by Andre Gomes was pretty much the highlight of the match until late drama in stoppage time unfolded.
During the dying moments of the game, the referee extended the added time due to time-wasting by Everton players. It seemed like every Liverpool player was attacking at the end of the match.
A mishit from Virgil van Dijk went miles up in the air and bounced twice on Jordan Pickford's crossbar as he attempted to grasp the ball out of the air rather comically. Ready to pounce was Divock Origi and he just had to put the ball in the back of the net which made the entire stadium erupt and a jubilant Klopp ran onto the pitch to celebrate with his keeper Alisson.