Updated 6 hours ago
Henderson’s cross slipped from the Villarreal defender and into the net
Liverpool made a big step towards reaching the final of the Champions League, following its victory at Anfield stadium over its Spanish guest, Villarreal, with two goals to nothing.
Jurgen Klopp’s team, which is seeking to achieve a quadruple this season, had to be patient to defeat well-organized Villarreal, led by coach Unai Emery, an expert in European competitions.
Despite creating many chances, Liverpool might not score and needed a touch of luck following 53 minutes of the match, when a cross pass from Jordan Henderson hit the foot of Villarreal defender Pervis Estupinan, to change direction and pass goalkeeper Jeromeno Rulli and land in the net.
Sadio Mane consolidated Liverpool’s lead following two minutes, following a decisive pass from Mohamed Salah.
The return leg takes place on Tuesday 3 May in Villarreal, but it appears that Liverpool are on their way to playing the final later in the month in Paris, where they meet Manchester City or Real Madrid.
Liverpool continues to win
It seems that Liverpool is gaining unstoppable momentum, following overcoming all challenges, even the hurdle of Villarreal, who defeated Juventus and Bayern Munich in previous rounds of the tournament.
From the first whistle, Villarreal sought to quell the hosts’ enthusiasm, taking a long time to resume play following each stop, especially goal kicks.
But in contrast to the frustration that dominated the players at times of the match once morest Everton in the English Premier League on Sunday, the Liverpool team remained calm, and seemed to believe that their chance would come.
With the start of the second half, the Liverpool players increased the pressure, in a change of pace that was more than Villarreal might match, as Fabinho’s goal was canceled for offside, before the first goal came following Henderson’s cross was rebounded from Estopinan’s feet.
And Klopp was able to remove the tireless Henderson and top scorer Sadio Mane from the field, while his team continued to dominate the match.
picture released, James Gill – Danehouse
Jurgen Klopp seeks to win a historic quartet with Liverpool
Liverpool poses a threat that makes it impossible for the opponent to be satisfied with lining up in front of the goal in the hope of stopping it. Several offensive options are now at Klopp’s disposal.
This group has enough strength that Klopp left striker Diogo Jota on the bench until the team managed to excel by two goals. This group also includes Luis Diaz, who has made an impressive impact since his move in January.
Diaz performed superbly, as he hit two shots in the first half, which were too powerful for goalkeeper Roli to catch, and his quick runs confused the Villarreal players throughout the evening.
Neither Klopp nor his team will take the final for granted, but with their level and confidence it is hard to imagine that any team, even as solid as Villarreal, will be able to compensate for the result of the first leg.
Now Liverpool are turning their focus once once more to pursuing Manchester City in the Premier League, as they travel to face in-form Newcastle United on Saturday.
The possibility still exists of achieving a historic quartet, as Liverpool have already won the English Premier League, while continuing to compete for the League, the FA Cup and the Champions League.
And the celebrations at Anfield following the final whistle tonight suggest that Liverpool fans are seeing what most observers thought impossible is now a possibility.
Emery still has hope
The Villarreal coach’s body language and his enthusiastic and angry gestures at the last minute, with his players in possession of the ball, indicated that he believes his team is still in the Champions League semi-finals despite falling two goals behind.
And he has every right to hold on to hope, because of his impressive record in two European championships, winning the European League four times with Seville and Villarreal, and defying the odds to take the nicknamed “Yellow Submarine” team to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
And it will certainly take some great work, even for this European expert, for Villarreal to beat a team like Liverpool.
Villarreal stuck to the smallest detail of defence, but was not given any opportunity to launch devastating counter-attacks, such as the ones that damaged Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Emery can never be underestimated, but in this match Villarreal did not show enough ability to prevent Liverpool from reaching their third Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp.
