Liverpool hit back to bury Manchester City's Champions League dream

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was sent to the stands at half-time as Liverpool came from behind to complete a 2-1 quarter-final win at the Etihad Stadium for a 5-1 aggregate victory over the two legs.

Having watched Gabriel Jesus give City a 1-0 lead after only two minutes attempting to recover from a 3-0 defeat in the first leg at Anfield last week, Guardiola complained bitterly at half-time to referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz for disallowing a Leroy Sane goal for offside when he was clearly on.

The decision was pivotal as Guardiola was sent off by Lahoz and looked on from the stands in the second half as expert finishes from Mohamed Salah (56') and Roberto Firmino (77') killed off City's hopes of an unlikely recovery.

Liverpool progress 5-1 on aggregate to their first Champions League semi-final since 2008, but the second leg was much closer than the scoreline would suggest, with the disallowed Sane goal denying the home side a 2-0 lead at half-time. It ultimately changed the momentum of the tie, with Liverpool eventually easing home.

City aggrieved by Sane's disallowed goal. Pep Guardiola will surely point to Leroy Sane's disallowed goal just before half-time as the significant moment in the match and there is little doubt that it should have stood. Loris Karius charged off his line to punch Kevin de Bruyne's dink into the box and, with the goalkeeper prone, the ball bounced off Liverpool's James Milner into the path of Sane, who had the simple task of turning into the net from close range.

Because the ball came off a Liverpool player, the German was actually in an onside position and a furious Guardiola was sent off at half-time for his protests on the pitch and in the tunnel. Given Guardiola's ultra-attacking formation, there was always a danger that Liverpool would score on the counterattack and, as City tired, Mo Salah pounced on a loose ball to stun the Etihad Stadium with a cheeky chipped finish ten minutes into the second half. That was effectively the end of the tie, leaving City needing to score four more times, but it might have been so different if they had gone in at half-time 2-0 up.

Roberto Firmino (Liverpool): The Brazilian, in common with his teammates, barely saw the ball in the opening 55 minutes but his tireless energy helped to keep City at bay and he made the result safe by robbing Otamendi and finishing coolly.

Man City XI: Ederson 6, Walker 6, Otamendi 4, Laporte 6, Fernandinho 8, De Bruyne 7, Silva (C) 7, Sane 6, Sterling 7, Bernardo 7, G Jesus 7. Subs: Aguero 5, Gundogan 6.

Liverpool XI: Karius 5, Alexander-Arnold 7, Lovren 8, Van Dijk 8, Robertson 7; Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Wijnaldum 7, Milner 8; Salah 8, Firmino 8, Mane 6. Subs: Clyne 6, Klavan 6, Ings 5.

1' - GOAL, Man City (Gabriel Jesus)! Van Dijk is left fuming after being bundled over by Sterling on the touchline but the referee waves play on and suddenly Sterling and Jesus are two-on-one against Lovren. The England winger squares for Jesus to give City a dream start after 1 minute and 57 seconds.

40' - CHANCE, Man City! Bernardo Silva collects the ball 25 yards from goal, steps inside and cracks a beautiful effort off the far post, via the slightest of touches from the head of Lovren.

42' - GOAL DISALLOWED, Man City! Karius charges off his line to punch De Bruyne's dinked pass and the ball ricochets off Miler into Sane's path. The German taps home but the flag is up.

45' - SENDING OFF, Man City (Guardiola)! Coach Pep Guardiola is sent to the stands for the second-half for his vocal on-pitch protests against the decision to disallow Sane's goal.

55' - GOAL, Liverpool (Salah)! Liverpool have a precious away goal as Mane bursts through the City defence, where he is stopped by a sprawling Ederson. The ball falls to Salah who keeps his goal to dink home yet another goal.

74' - GOAL, Liverpool (Firmino)! Otamendi hopelessly gives the ball way to Firmino, who strolls forward and passes the ball past Ederson. Game over!

- Liverpool have reached the semi-final stage of the European Cup/Champions League for the 10th time – the only English team to have appeared in more are Man Utd (12).