City led 1-0 on the night at that stage after Gabriel Jesus's second-minute opener, but the hosts felt aggrieved after Leroy Sane had a second goal wrongly disallowed for offside just before half-time. "It's different to go in 1-0 at half-time to 2-0," said Guardiola, who also believed Liverpool's opener in a 3-0 first-leg win at Anfield last week should have been ruled out for offside.Liverpool advance!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 10, 2018
They knock out Manchester City to reach the Champions League semifinals for the first time since 2008! pic.twitter.com/Ub1yXwJ0TU
"When the teams are so equal the impact of these decisions is so big." Mohamed Salah booked Liverpool's place in the last four for the first time in a decade when he coolly chipped home his 39th goal of the season 11 minutes into the second half before Roberto Firmino inflicted a third consecutive defeat on City for the first time in Guardiola's near two-year reign.Salah and Firmino fire @LFC to a 2-1 win (5-1 agg) over Manchester City to reach the Champions League semi-finals ➡️ https://t.co/5FCZ9GqwvI pic.twitter.com/eTOWRdMAfO
— Premier League (@premierleague) April 10, 2018
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed the maturity of his side to see out a first-half onslaught. "The boys found a solution. We had these two or three moments already at end of the first half so it was easy for me and the boys to see the development of the game and that we are already through the whirlwind," said Klopp. Liverpool trail City by 17 points in the Premier League, but have now beaten Guardiola's men in three of their four meetings this season. "I really think they are the best team in the world at the moment but I knew we could beat them," added Klopp. "We should enjoy the moment. It was a while ago Liverpool was in the semis and I was in the semis and now we are there together."THIRTY. NINE. GOALS.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 10, 2018
⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/CbzaAtChsN
Guardiola admitted beforehand that his side needed the "perfect" performance and the hosts got the perfect start as they opened the scoring after just 117 seconds. Liverpool were unhappy at Mateu Lahoz in what was to be the start of a controversial night for the Spaniard when Virgil van Dijk claimed he had been pushed by Raheem Sterling in the lead-up to the goal. The referee was unmoved, though, and with the Dutchman out of position, Fernandinho's through ball found Sterling and his low cross was swept home by Jesus. Salah had been an injury doubt after limping off in the first leg, but Liverpool were unable to spring the Egyptian free in the first 45 minutes as City peppered the visitors' box with crosses without finding the final touch. Bernardo Silva saw a deflected effort spin just wide and then rattled the post with a deflected long-range strike."We walked out and let me tell you it was joy unconfined. Let me tell you, I have rarely felt closer to the city of Liverpool, rarely felt the brotherly love of Liverpool like this. Rarely known the likes. Rarely been as keenly in love."https://t.co/M9EZsgC9IQ
— The Anfield Wrap (@TheAnfieldWrap) April 11, 2018
"The first half was so good," added Guardiola. "(We) hit the post from Bernardo, but when you arrive you have to try to score the second goal." The turning point came seconds later when Sane turned into an empty net after Loris Karius's punch came back off his own player James Milner. Guardiola ran onto the field at half-time to pull his protesting players away from the official before embarking on his own rant at Mateu Lahoz that saw him watch the second half from the stands."Underestimate them at your peril!"@JamesHorncastle says Liverpool shouldn't overlook Roma after the Italians stunned Barcelona tonight.
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) April 10, 2018
Who do you want in the last four #LFC fans?
5 live social ?? https://t.co/xH3bYdEA4w pic.twitter.com/1Xl8cqNCBS
City understandably failed to maintain the intensity of their first-half display and Salah got the decisive goal when he followed up after Ederson had denied Sadio Mane with a wonderfully-judged chipped finish past the despairing Nicolas Otamendi in the 56th minute. City's terrible week after also blowing the chance to seal the Premier League title against local rivals Manchester United at the weekend was rounded off 13 minutes from time when Otamendi was caught in possession and Firmino slotted in off the far post.Liverpool are back. pic.twitter.com/dgcgoLQnSg
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 11, 2018
⏰ RESULTS ⏰
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) April 10, 2018
A stunning second-leg comeback sends Roma to the semi-finals; Liverpool reach last 4 for the first time since 2008. ???
* Roma win on away goals#UCL pic.twitter.com/i9ilc2ifyt