So, that did happen. Liverpool did overcome a 3-0 first leg loss to beat Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield and book their place in the Champions League final for the second year in a row. After the Lionel Messi masterclass at the Camp Nou a week ago, the Argentine barely featured on yet another bonkers Champions League night. From Ajax at the Bernabéu to Ajax in Turin, Manchester United in Paris and the Manchester City and Spurs VAR controversy, this year's instalment of one of sport's greatest tournaments has had it all. Few gave Liverpool any hope last night but an early Divock Origi goal set them on their way. Georginio Wijnaldum's quick brace at the start of the second half set the tie level and from there it was only going to go one way as the slick passing play of Barcelona quickly became a distant memory and, when Origi bagged the fourth thanks to some quick thinking from Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jürgen Klopp's men were on their way to Madrid. It's the greatest comeback of Liverpool's fabled European history and, as Mary Hannigan writes, one that was completed in the most beautiful way. Afterwards Klopp said he wasn't sure if he would see anything like it again but that he knew his players had a chance if they adopted the "mentality of giants". That they certainly did do.
Tonight we will find out who their opponents in the final will be with Spurs also looking to mount a comeback, albeit not to the scale of Liverpool's. Mauricio Pochettino's side go to Amsterdam after a 1-0 loss to Ajax in the first leg and the Argentine manager last night dropped the bombshell that he may well quit the club if they win the Champions League. "To win the Champions League in this circumstance, in this season – maybe I need to think a little bit to do something different in the future," he said.
Moving on to rugby and this morning Gordon D'Arcy writes that the forthcoming departure of Seán O'Brien from Leinster may well act as the catalyst for the province to claim a fifth Champions Cup title on Saturday when they take on Saracens. The man from Tullow will make the switch to London Irish this summer – where he will be joined by Paddy Jackson – and D'Arcy writes that his former teammate has been at the forefront of his mind this week. Speaking ahead of the game yesterday, Robbie Henshaw stressed the need for Leinster to win breaking ball against their English opponents. "I think the scraps are going to be huge so I suppose beating them to the ball on the floor and those individual battles are going to be key. Getting the edge on your opposite number in the game is going to be huge," he said. Continuing his countdown to St James's Park is John O'Sullivan who this morning remembers another Irishman who played for Saracens – Paddy Johns. The Dungannon dentist, who won 59 caps for Ireland, 10 as captain, between 1992 and 2000, was a tough, uncompromising player on the pitch and a quietly spoken gentleman off it. Away from the Champions Cup, Bill Johnson is expected to move from Munster to Ulster as opportunities dry up with Johann van Graan's side, according to Gerry Thornley.
In GAA, Seán Moran reckons that this year could be a momentous one for football, and not just because Dublin could make it five-in-a-row. "The environment that made a Tier 2 football championship unthinkable – not least to the counties directly affected – as recently as three years ago has been transformed with growing numbers accepting that something has to be done to provide meaningful competitive opportunities for more than the top three or four counties," he writes.
