Trent Alexander-Arnold: We never make things easy for ourselves

Liverpool made life difficult for themselves against Villarreal but were confident in getting the job done, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said after his side came back from two goals down to reach the Champions League final.

Liverpool played the proverbial game of two halves to book their spot in the showpiece after a 5-2 aggregate semi-final win, bouncing back from conceding two goals in the first half of the away leg in Spain to score three times in the second.

Alexander-Arnold was easily beaten for Villarreal's second of the night from Francis Coquelin, but goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane spared his blushes. Liverpool head to the final in Paris on May 28 to meet either Manchester City or Real Madrid, who play on Wednesday.

"We never tend to make these Champions League semis easy for ourselves," full back Alexander-Arnold told BT Sport.

"It was difficult for us (in the) first half, sometimes you can't really control the game the way you want to. They started the game very well, scored early goals which is obviously what they wanted to do, but like I said, we got the game done," he added.

Fabinho fired Liverpool back into the lead in the tie in the 62nd minute, backing himself to score rather than passing.

"When I received the ball from Mo Salah my first thought was to pass the ball, but I thought Sadio was offside, I don't know, so I decided to shoot. And I think that (was) the best option," the Brazilian midfielder said.

"We never tend to make these Champions League semis easy for ourselves..." Trent Alexander-Arnold and Fabinho react to Liverpool reaching the #UCL final #RTESoccer #UCL #VILLIV #LFC