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Rome sweet Rome.

Once again the Eternal City was painted red as Liverpool secured their passage to the Champions League final on a nerve-shredding night at the Stadio Olimpico.

The scene of two of the club's European Cup triumphs was the setting for another monumental achievement as Jurgen Klopp's side dug deep to survive a late Roma onslaught.

The scenes of unbridled joy showed just what it meant. Virgil van Dijk dropped to his knees at the final whistle, while Klopp charged on to the field to wrap his arms around each of his shattered heroes.

The party in the away end was already under way. 'Allez, Allez, Allez', the soundtrack of this remarkable continental adventure , will echo around the streets of Kiev on May 26.

Real Madrid stand between Liverpool and a sixth European crown in a repeat of the 1981 final in Paris.

It was telling that Klopp's players re-emerged from the dressing room after the locals had dispersed to join in the celebrations with the 5,000-strong travelling Kop.

At first they stood on the edge of the pitch dancing and singing before Sadio Mane dashed across the running track to get closer to their adoring public.

His team-mates followed suit as shirts were thrown in and scarves and hats tossed back. The flag bearing the name of Sean Cox was held aloft. The emotion was raw.

This was Liverpool – the powerful, unified force who have stunned Europe on this dazzling journey. This was the resurgent Liverpool whose 11-year wait to grace the biggest game in club football is over.

Klopp, the architect of this stunning revival, punched the air in delight. From a qualifier against Hoffenheim in August to a final meeting with 12-times winners Real, it's the stuff of fairytales.

Yet Klopp's men have proved they belong on this stage. No other club in Champions League history has ever scored 46 goals en route to the final.

Now the Reds stand on the brink of greatness. Finish the job off in the Ukrainian capital and this crop of players will be remembered as legends forever.

It's Klopp v Zinedine Zidane. It's Mohamed Salah v Cristiano Ronaldo. The prospect is mouthwatering.

When Liverpool last faced Real Madrid four years ago they raised a white flag before a ball had been kicked. There was an inferiority complex.

Not this time. Kopites will travel with genuine belief that after the near misses of recent years this run will have a happy ending.

In a position of control after last week's emphatic 5-2 win at Anfield, the Reds appeared to be cruising when Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum struck either side of James Milner's own goal.

But Eusebio Di Francesco's side mounted a spirited second-half fightback as Edin Dzeko pulled one back before Radja Nainggolan's late double.

This was all about guts and resilience when their backs were against the wall. The mentality Klopp has instilled came to the fore as Liverpool refused to crumble.

(Image: Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Captain Jordan Henderson delivered a true captain's performance as he covered every blade of grass, while Van Dijk was a commanding presence as he kept his cool amidst the mayhem. Liverpool proved they are so much more than simply the record-breaking Salah.

The night had started with the Reds being greeted by a deafening crescendo of whistles and jeers. The Stadio Olimpico crowd had been whipped into a frenzy and Roma fed off that energy initially as they looked to reduce the hefty first-leg deficit.

Amidst the hostility, the Reds kept their shape and remained composed. Alessandro Florenzi fired wide as Klopp's side weathered the early storm.

Eusebio Di Francesco had ditched his three-man backline after seeing his side ripped to shreds at Anfield, but once again they looked so vulnerable when they lost possession and the Reds countered at pace.

Liverpool struck with their first meaningful attack. Nainggolan gave the ball away cheaply and the punishment was ruthless.

Roberto Firmino raced forward and released Mane, who took a touch to steady himself and coolly planted a left-footer past Alisson.

Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Qarabag, Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona had all failed to scored here in the Champions League this season, but it had taken Klopp's attacking juggernaut just nine minutes to find the breakthrough. It was the Senegal international's 19 goal of the season.

Roma looked stunned but they were soon gifted a lifeline courtesy of a freak equaliser.

There appeared to be little danger when Stephan El Shaarawy nodded back across goal, but Dejan Lovren hammered his clearance against Milner and the ball flew past a helpless Loris Karius.

Suddenly, the din was restored and Roma believed again. Where once this Liverpool team would have cursed their misfortune, they showcased their progress by dusting themselves off and going again.

The more Roma committed players forward, the more wide open spaces there were for Klopp's front three to wreak havoc.

Mane curled wide before Henderson's pin-point pass released Andy Robertson. The Scottish left-back burst into the area and teed up Mane, who was thwarted by a fine save from Alisson.

Liverpool bagged a precious second away goal before the half-hour mark. Roma made a mess of dealing with Milner's corner as Dezko misplaced his header and Wijnaldum pounced to nod home.

(Image: Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Elation was etched across the Dutchman's face. What a time for him to end his three-year wait for a goal on his travels. This was the first time he had scored away since he was playing for PSV Eindhoven against Den Haag in May 2015.

Roma were deflated. They needed four without reply just to take it to extra-time.

The dangerous El Shaarawy struck the woodwork before the Italy international theatrically threw himself over a challenge from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Slovenian official Damir Skomina rightly waved away pleas for a spot-kick.

In the second half Roma raised the bar and Liverpool found themselves increasingly under the cosh.

The offside flag saved Karius after he brought down Dzeko but the keeper was beaten seven minutes after the break. Dzeko tucked away the rebound clinically after Karius had parried El Shaarawy's strike.

Desperation and dismay among the home fans turned to hope and the decibel levels were cranked up.

Di Francesco went for broke, bringing on Cengiz Under, who squandered a great chance from close range.

Hearts were in mouths in the away end when Alexander-Arnold's attempted clearance dropped kindly to El Shaarawy, but the gutsy teenager atoned for his error as he threw himself in the way and somehow deflected it over.

A combination of last-ditch defending and wasteful finishing kept Roma out before the outstanding Mane made way for Ragnar Klavan.

Klopp was shutting up shop. With minutes to go Nainggolan's fierce 25-yarder cannoned in off the post and then deep into stoppage time Klavan was penalised for handball.

Nainggolan converted from the spot but as soon as the Reds kicked off Skomina blew the final whistle.

Liverpool march on to Kiev. A defeat has never felt so sweet.

MATCH FACTS

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Roma: Alisson, Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov, Pellegrini (Under 53), De Rossi (Gonalons 69), Nainggolan, Schick, Dzeko, El Shaarawy (Antonucci 75).

Not used: Skorupski, Jesus, Peres, Gerson.

Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold (Clyne 90), Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum, Salah, Mane (Klavan 83), Firmino (Solanke 87).

Not used: Mignolet, Moreno, Ings, Woodburn.

Referee: Damir Skomina

Attendance: 61,889

Goals: Mane 9, Milner OG 15, Wijnaldum 25, Dzeko 52, Nainggolan 86.

Bookings: Lovren, Robertson, Monolas.

Man of the match: Sadio Mane. Scored the opener and caused Roma problems throughout.