Liverpool, playing with all the authority and power that has made them the most feared club side on the Continent, reached the Final of the European Cup for the second successive season last night when they swept Borussia Moenchengladbach out of the semi-finals on another ecstatic Anfield evening, winning the second leg 3-0 to take the tie 4-2 on aggregate. Once Kennedy, who with Souness had an outstanding game, had given Liverpool an early lead the West German side, ever mindful of their resounding defeat in Rome in last year's Final, seldom looked capable of stopping the English champions who if they continue in a similar vein against Bruges at Wembley on May 10 will surely become the first British side to retain the trophy. For Liverpool the proposition was simple, to score one goal and prevent Borussia from getting another. The first objective was achieved in little more than six minutes with a movement started and finished by Kennedy, a movement of typical English sweep and force, though it owed much to Scottish subtlety. Kennedy, just inside the German half, found Souness in space near the penalty area and a marvellous pass of precise weight and fine angle sent Dalglish to the byline on the right. Possibly Borussia should have been more aware of the obvious danger at the far post but certainly nothing could detract from the imperiousness of Kennedy's header as he placed the ball unstoppably past Kleff. Having scored in only their second serious attack, Liverpool relaxed and continued to find space near goal with ominous ease. Borussia took it all with a certain degree of phlegm. No strangers to Anfield, they knew what to expect. They carried on as they had begun with Bonhof seeking to burrow into the heart of Liverpool's territory trying to draw the defence so that Del' Haye could use his speed to gain ground past Hughes on the right and Wimmer catch Neal and Smith square on the opposite wing.

Several German movements were immaculate in concept but, as in the first leg, became shoddy by the time they reached the Liverpool penalty area. Heynckes again showing how much he was missing the support of the injured Simonsen. Liverpool, in contrast, threatened to score almost every time they moved forward. McDermott's neat control, Kennedy's power and pace and the vision of Souness, bringing a new elegance to a previously workaday midfield, gave them a broad base for a series of attacks that, being Liverpool, showed little sign of relenting. Borussia were apparently powerless to deal with the strength and accuracy of Kennedy in the air in their own penalty area. In the 34th minute Hughes lobbed the ball up towards the penalty spot, Kennedy with his back to goal headed down in the manner of Geoff Hurst and Dalglish sent a precise shot past the unsighted Kleff inside the far post to put Liverpool ahead for the first time in the tie. Four minutes later after Kleff, challenged by Case, had failed to hold a ball from Kennedy, McDermott shot wide of an empty net. Between Liverpool's first two goals Kleff had saved well from Smith, who had been sent clear by McDermott's impudent chip of a free kick, but the goalkeeper's apprehension as he flapped at rather than caught high centres was always evident, not without reason as it turned out; Smith being cautioned for a late lunge at him towards the end of the first half. Ten minutes into the second half Liverpool, even if they had not been sure before, became certain that they would be back in the Final once more. Again Kennedy played a crucial part in the goal, sending in Case from the right with a well struck pass across the corner of the German penalty area. Case dummied Hannes, cut inside, and sent a typically thunderous shot past Kleff.

Liverpool proved themselves "mighty reds" at Anfield last night when they charged into the European Cup Final at Wembley on May 10 by comprehensively disposing of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the second leg of the semi-final. They will meet FC Bruges of Belgium in the Final. Their triumph produced amazing scenes at the end of the match, for the sporting Germans stayed on in midfield to heap their congratulations on their conquerors and as Liverpool jubilantly set out on a lap of honour, three quarters of them were wearing the shirts of the beaten Germans. David Johnson, who was kept out of the match by injury, was not forgotten in these heady moments, for he was at the mouth of the tunnel as the players went to the dressing room and, one by one, they hugged him delightedly. Liverpool needed only six minutes to wipe out the one goal deficit from Dusseldorf with a Ray Kennedy header. It was a dream start and was enough for the crowd to chant: "You'll never beat the Reds"; but there was still a lot of hard work to be done and Liverpool set about it as though they were enjoying every moment. Certainly, the crowd were. Liverpool chose the occasion to parade all the skills that have come to be known and admired through 14 consecutive years in Europe and, just when they needed it most, they turned on their most spectacular and convincing performance of the season. Liverpool's exhibition was sparked by a tremendous midfield display with Graeme Souness setting the pattern and Terry McDermott and Ray Kennedy chasing him for the honours. For Souness, it was a most memorable and rewarding entry into the European scene and his best game for Liverpool was noteworthy for the fact that never once did be appear in the remotest danger of getting into disciplinary trouble. Souness's passing, like that of his fellow Scot Kenny Dalglish, was a model of accuracy all the way through. They brought movement and menace with astute use of the ball and even though manager Bob Paisley chose to leave David Fairclough on the substitute's bench, Liverpool were quick enough to pose all manner of problems, with Jimmy Case revelling in his responsibilities. Emlyn Hughes, too, was in superlative form.

But there was not a man in the side who did not mark the importance of the occasion by turning on a display that did credit to them as representatives of British football. Liverpool's great win not only qualified them for the Final but produced boundless confidence in their ability to create a record by being the first British club to retain the trophy. Last night, at least, Liverpool looked what they are - every inch champions. Nobody had a more formidable role to play than Steve Heighway. The highly competent and competitive Bertie Vogts stuck to him like a leach and there were repeated howls of indignation when the referee showed he had a different interpretation from the majority of the crowd as to what constituted a foul. But after Liverpool had increased their lead in 34 minutes with a Dalglish goal, the referee showed he had come prepared for action by showing the yellow card to Smith for an offence on Kleff. Obviously, the Germans were given a "do or die" dressing room message at half-time for they carried the fight to Liverpool as an indication that they meant business. They won their first corner in 48 minutes but Liverpool showed their complete mastery by going away and scoring a third goal in 54 minutes. Immediately after Kennedy had tested Kleff with a piledriver of a shot, he brought Case into action. Jimmy confidently moved the ball inside the penalty area to get the position he wanted and then blasted the ball into the net for a magnificent goal. Of course, it all started well for Liverpool. In six minutes they had wiped out the arrears from Dusseldorf with a storybook goal. From a midfield build up, Souness weighted a through ball perfectly for Dalglish to chase and catch just short of the by-line. Over came the perfect cross, and there was Kennedy, ideally placed, to power home a header. Even though coming events had already cast their shadows, it took Liverpool 34 minutes to score their second heartbreak goal for the Germans. Hughes found Kennedy with an accurate pass. On went the ball to Dalglish who shot instantly and scored with a ball that just crept inside the post. While it was Souness who showed what a tremendous job he is set to do for Liverpool, it was Kennedy who found and revelled in his international form.