Liverpool vs. Borussia Dortmund: Score, Reaction from 2016 Europa League, Leg 2

Liverpool came from two goals down to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 in an incredible match at Anfield on Thursday to reach the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, heading through with an aggregate scoreline of 5-4.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found the net inside the first 10 minutes before Liverpool responded well and eventually pulled one back through Divock Origi.

Marco Reus' strike ensured the Reds still needed three more goals, but Philippe Coutinho, Mamadou Sakho and Dejan Lovren all found the net—the latter in injury time—as they threw everything at their opponents.

The match was an open, end-to-end affair throughout as both sides created countless chances amid a pulse-pounding dramatic atmosphere.

The visitors got off to an electric start and were ahead in the tie with fewer than five minutes on the clock. Simon Mignolet did well to keep out a close-range volley from Aubameyang, but Mkhitaryan was on hand to turn home the rebound with ease—his 21st goal of the season in all competitions.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Aubameyang doubled their lead just minutes later, latching on to a slide-rule pass from Reus and lashing the ball into the top corner at the near post, per BT Sport Football:

The Liverpool Echo's Neil Jones ran the rule over the strike, Aubameyang's 37th of the season:

German football writer Alex Chaffer also hailed BVB's incredible start to proceedings: 

The Reds finally got out of their own half long enough for Origi to test Roman Weidenfeller, but the German raced off his line to deny the Belgian after he'd been picked out by Adam Lallana. Lallana had a chance of his own shortly after but could only swipe at the air after miscontrolling the ball seven yards out following an excellent bit of play from Roberto Firmino to get into the box.

Liverpool continued to create chances and twice delivered excellent balls into the area, but Origi and Emre Can were unable to direct their resulting efforts on target. DW Sports' Stefan Bienkowski and ESPN FC's Stefan Buczko noted the contrast in Dortmund's performance after their early flourish:

They still had chances of their own, though, and Aubameyang should have put the game beyond the hosts but failed to connect with Lukasz Piszczek's cross, while Mignolet made a comfortable save from Shinji Kagawa after he did manage to get on the end of a ball from Mkhitaryan.

Just two minutes and 34 seconds after the restart, Origi pulled one back for the Reds when he raced on to Can's excellent through ball and calmly poked the ball under Weidenfeller.

Bleacher Report UK summarised the reaction as the goal sparked hopes of a memorable comeback:

"

48th minute: Divock Origi makes it 2-1. Game. On. https://t.co/CMPO17kaIC

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) April 14, 2016"

Those hopes were briefly dashed, though, when Mats Hummels strode forward and fed Reus on the left with an exquisite pass, and the German made no mistake in tucking the ball into the far corner, per beIN SPORTS:

Jurgen Klopp threw on Joe Allen and Daniel Sturridge in a bid to change things as Liverpool once again sought to score three, but it was Coutinho who had the impact as he played a lovely one-two with Alberto Moreno before curling in a low effort from 25 yards, per Fox Soccer:

Their hopes reignited once more, Liverpool poured forward in search of more and were rewarded when a Coutinho corner squirmed through to the unmarked Sakho, and he nodded it in from close range, per Fox Soccer:

As Buczko noted, all the impetus was now firmly with the hosts:

Indeed, as the match entered injury time, Liverpool completed yet another dramatic European comeback when Lovren rose to power home a header from James Milner's cross. BT Sport Football captured the scenes at full-time:

After knocking out the best team left in the competition, the Reds will now be hopeful of lifting the trophy in May and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

With the never-say-die attitude instilled in them by Klopp and the belief this win will bring, they may just do so.

Post-Match Reaction

Per Bleacher Report UK's Jack Lusby, a delighted Klopp reflected on the match:

According to Lusby, he added: 

"

At half-time with the result we had, it's difficult to stay brave, but we had a little agreement, said 'We have to go the hard way.' We played a good game, but at 2-0 down then for the team to stay in the race—that's really rare. 

My role is not too important in this moment. We had a good plan in the first half between conceded two goals! It was not easy to change. With the style of play of Dortmund, every offensive player [brought on] opens space. Against Dortmund anything can happen. In situations like this you need a little bit of luck.

"

Meanwhile, Dortmund boss Thomas Tuchel painted a dejected figure as Sky Sports' Alex Chaffer noted:

Per football writer Dave O'Connell, he added: "I can't explain it. If I can explain something logical would have happened. At 3-3 it seemed like destiny for them. Congrats to Liverpool, you have to take the defeat like a champion."