Sadio Mane's brace inspired Liverpool to a convincing 3-1 win at Bayern Munich and a place in the Champions League quarterfinals.
The Senegal forward's excellent 26th-minute opener gave Jurgen Klopp's side a priceless away goal but, in a similar vein to the goalless first leg at Anfield, the action was fitful and error-strewn for the most part.
Bayern was level at the break thanks to Joel Matip's own goal but Niko Kovac's side was never able to mount a sustained victory push.
As it happened: Bayern Munich vs Liverpool
A typically dominant Virgil van Dijk powered in to leave a forlorn Bayern with a mountain to climb and Mane administered the knockout blow six minutes from time.
Fabinho, a surprise omission from the Liverpool starting XI, was soon pressed into action when Jordan Henderson suffered an early ankle injury.
The visitor settled well despite that setback and - moments after Roberto Firmino flashed a snapshot wide - Mane brilliantly brought down Van Dijk's raking ball, spun a needlessly marauding Manuel Neuer and chipped in a sublime finish.
Liverpool's lead lasted until six minutes before half-time when Serge Gnabry darted in behind Andy Robertson and Matip put through his own goal with Robert Lewandowski lurking.
Neuer dealt unconvincingly with a well-hit Mohamed Salah drive that was straight at him in the 50th minute, with Bayern struggling for rhythm.
Gnabry remained a reliable outlet – not to mention a menace for Robertson – and he whipped a dangerous ball between the goalmouth and a sliding Lewandowski as the hour passed.
However, the Poland striker would like to have given Van Dijk far more work before the defender rose at the back post to power home James Milner's 69th-minute corner.
Bayern was finished and Mane added late gloss on the end of Salah's floated cross.
What does it mean? Premier League era begins as Bayern's ends
Bayern last fell at this stage of the competition in 2011, going on to win the Champions League two years later. Four semifinals in the subsequent five seasons followed but age has caught up with a fine side and a revamp is necessary, with the likes of Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich – badly missed through suspension in the second leg – set to have key roles.
The all-Bundesliga final against Borussia Dortmund was an emphatic statement, 12 months before Germany lifted the World Cup. Club and national team success do not necessarily go together, but Liverpool joining Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham in the quarterfinals should cheer those who revelled in Gareth Southgate's England reaching the semi-finals of Russia 2018.
Van Dijk underlines player-of-the-season credentials
A game-breaking contribution from the Netherlands centre-back did nothing to explain his importance to Liverpool that the tangible sense of panic surrounding his suspension from the first leg had not done already. Van Dijk was typically colossal here, with Lewandowski feeding off scraps as his marker helped himself to an assist and a memorable goal.
Neuer decline sad to witness
Throughout this golden period for Bayern, Neuer has rightly been considered the premier goalkeeper in world football. However, injuries have taken an awful toll on the 32-year-old, whose muddled decision-making led to Mane's opener. He pawed behind for the corner that led to Van Dijk's winner – the lack of authority inside his own six-yard box a sorry sight.
What's next?
Liverpool will return to the top of the Premier League on Sunday if it beats lowly Fulham, with Manchester City in FA Cup action a day earlier at Swansea. Bayern entertains Mainz as it remains neck-and-neck with Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund.
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