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At the end of the storm Jurgen Klopp had predicted there was a golden sky.

Liverpool were tossed and blown but they held their heads up high and emerged triumphant on a dramatic night.

The words of the club's iconic anthem, which echoed around the stunned Etihad, were fitting as the resurgent Reds booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League at the expense of Manchester City.

Predictably, Kopites were put through the wringer before they could celebrate the sweetest of European scalps.

In a position of control following last week's 3-0 victory at Anfield, Liverpool felt the full force of a City backlash.

Gabriel Jesus' early goal gave the Premier League champions elect hope and the Reds had to withstand 45 minutes of almost incessant pressure.

But rather than crumble, they dug deep. Through a mixture of good fortune and heroic defending they survived without further damage until the break.

Whatever Klopp said at half-time proved inspired. The second half display was brimming with guts, spirit and desire.

This was Klopp's Liverpool. They were bold – just like their manager had demanded and they got their reward.

Mohamed Salah, who appears to be writing his own scripts, coolly dinked home his 39th goal of the season to break City's resolve. Roberto Firmino then took centre stage to send the travelling Kop into raptures.

Salah and Firmino have hit the heights during this thrilling Champions League adventure – their tally of nine goals in 11 outings is a new club record.

But this was truly a momentous team effort. When Liverpool were under the cosh and their dreams were on the line, to a man they stood up and delivered.

For the first time in a decade the Reds will be in the pot when the draw for the semi-finals is made in Nyon on Friday. They have retaken their place among European royalty.

No wonder the delirious away end chanted Klopp's name repeatedly during the closing stages.

The last time Liverpool graced this competition prior to his arrival they were embarrassed and dumped out at the group stage.

Now they are feared once again across the continent and that's down to Klopp and the magic he has worked over the past two-and-a-half years.

The German has bought wisely, he's developed what he inherited and created a team ethic which is enabling them to flourish. The juggernaut is gathering pace and a final trip to Kiev in May is now tantalisingly close.

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Don't under-estimate what Liverpool achieved against Pep Guardiola's star-studded side. They didn't just beat the favourites to win the Champions League, they hammered them 5-1 on aggregate. Free-scoring City had just three shots on target in the space of 180 minutes.

The teamsheet had represented a statement of intent from Guardiola as he brought in Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva for Ilkay Gundogan and Vincent Kompany.

It was effectively a front six and they tore at Liverpool from the off.

City led inside two minutes. Virgil Van Dijk's appeals for a free-kick were ignored after he was knocked off his feet by Sterling close to the touchline and the Reds were left exposed.

Fernandinho played in Sterling, who crossed for Jesus to reduce the deficit.

It set the tone for a horribly one-sided opening 45 minutes as City, who had scored three or more on 12 occasions at home this season, bossed proceedings. Klopp had warned Liverpool to expect a “thunderstorm” and they found themselves under siege.

Roles were reversed compared to six days earlier with the hosts relentless and Klopp's men momentarily looking rattled. The Reds caused trouble for themselves as they repeatedly coughed up possession cheaply.

Leroy Sane and Bernando Silva got at Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson down the flanks. Liverpool's midfield battled to secure a foothold in the contest, while the front three had precious little service.

When the Reds did have the chances to counter in the first half they went long too early and the openings disappeared.

Sane's cross-shot was turned away by Loris Karius before the keeper denied De Bruyne. An irritated Klopp couldn't hide his angst, gesturing wildly for his players not to drop so deep.

When Firmino followed Sadio Mane and Alexander-Arnold into the book after chopping down Kevin De Bruyne, Liverpool were teetering on the edge.

James Milner's block thwarted Bernardo Silva, who then saw another effort deflected wide. The Portugal international went even closer with a fierce strike which clipped Dejan Lovren and bounced back off the post.

Lady luck continued to shine on the Reds. Three minutes before the break City thought they had a second goal when Sane tucked the ball away after Jesus had latched on to Karius' punch.

The celebrations were curtailed by the offside flag. Replays showed that Liverpool had enjoyed an almighty let-off as the ball had reached Sane via a touch from Milner.

The visitors had barely got out of their own half but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain exchanged passes with Salah and went around Ederson before lashing over.

Guardiola led City's vehement protests to Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz at the interval and his petulance saw him dismissed from the touchline. The Spaniard could only sit and watch ashen-faced in the stand as Liverpool turned the tables.

Guilty of trying to hold on to what they had in the first half, they settled and got back on the front foot.

Eleven minutes into the second half the mood inside the Etihad was transformed.

Gini Wijnaldum and Oxlade-Chamberlain combined to find Salah, who laid it off to birthday boy Mane.

The flying winger drove past Aymeric Laporte with Fernandinho knocking him to the ground as Ederson dived at his feet.

Salah was alert and pounced on the loose ball, nipping it away from the keeper and dinking a classy left-footer into the far corner.

The Kop's Egyptian King wasn't at his blistering best following his recent groin problem but he was still too hot for City to handle.

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As the travelling Kop erupted, the home fans sat in stunned silence. Suddenly, City needed four goals in half an hour.

They threw on Sergio Aguero in search of a miracle but the wind had been taken out of their sails.

Defensively, Liverpool were rock-solid in the second half with Van Dijk organising and the outstanding Lovren putting himself into the path of everything City could muster.

Young Alexander-Arnold dealt brilliantly with Sane and the midfield trio of James Milner, Wijnaldum and Oxlade-Chamberlain turned the screw.

With 13 minutes to go the Reds rubbed salt into City's gaping wounds.

It was classic Firmino as he shut down Nicolas Otamendi, picked his pocket and galloped goalwards before slotting past Ederson.

As City fans headed for home, the party in the away end was in full flow. The renditions of 'Allez, Allez, Allez' grew ever louder.

After a turbulent start, here was the golden sky. Klopp's Liverpool will take some stopping.

MATCH FACTS

Manchester City: Ederson, Walker, Otamendi, Laporte, Fernandinho, De Bruyne, David Silva (Aguero 66), Sane, Sterling, Bernardo Silva (Gundogan 74), Jesus.

Not used: Bravo, Kompany, Foden, Zinchenko, Delph.

Liverpool: Karius, Alexander-Arnold (Clyne 81), Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah (Ings 89), Firmino (Klavan 81), Mane.

Not used: Mignolet, Moreno, Woodburn, Solanke.

Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

Goals: Jesus 2, Salah 56, Firmino 77.

Bookings: Mane, Ederson, Alexander-Arnold, Bernardo Silva, Firmino, Van Dijk

Man of the match: Dejan Lovren. Dug deep and produced under pressure.