Last Wednesday, Villarreal traveled to Anfield in England to play Liverpool in the 1st leg of the UEFA Champions League Semi Final. The clear underdogs, Villarreal, would have to perform away from home in order to have a chance at advancing to the Final.
Jurgen Klopp returned to his normal starting lineup for this game, bringing back Van Dijk, Robertson, Salah, Thiago, and Mane. He was looking to score early. Liverpool played a 4-3-3.
Starting XI: Allison, Alexander-Arnold, Robertson, Van Dijk, Konaté, Henderson (C), Thiago, Fabinho, Salah, Díaz, Mané
Unai Emery kept the same lineup from the tie against Bayern Munich, but started last game’s substitute goal scorer Samuel Chukwueze instead of Moreno. Villarreal played a 4-4-2.
Starting XI: Rulli, Foyth, Estupiñán, Albiol, Torres, Lo Celso, Capoue, Parejo, Coquelin, Chukwueze, Danjuma
Liverpool started the game aggressively, playing the ball into Villarreal’s defensive third right away. Liverpool continued to attack and eventually won a corner 8 minutes in. Robertson played in the cross, looking for Konaté’s head who had proven to score off corners time and time again. It went to Konaté’s head and he headed it down to Mané’s feet, but it was cleared by Pau Torres for another corner. Alexander-Arnold whipped in the corner, this time on the right-hand side, but Salah was unable to direct his header on goal.
Liverpool continued to dominate as Mané played Salah in out wide where the Egyptian got the ball on his left foot and drove inside. He chipped in a ball to Mané, but he was offsides.
Liverpool once again got it out wide and passed the ball to Diaz. Diaz elected to test Rulli with a shot from outside the box. Rulli wasn’t ready for it and fumbled the ball, but nothing came of it.
Mané and Salah were a dangerous duo for Villarreal to deal with. They combined effortlessly and ripped shot after shot on Rulli. Diaz did as well, and Rulli could not hang on to them, punching the ball into dangerous areas at the top of the box. Luckily for Rulli, his center backs, Torres and Albiol, were able to clear many goalline 50/50 balls before Liverpool could get to them. It was Liverpool’s game unless Villarreal would be able to score a counter-attack goal.
Villarreal had a counter-attack chance in the 32nd minute when Torres cleared the ball to Chukwueze. Van Dijk ran carelessly towards the ball and took out Chukwueze, earning him a yellow card.
Villarreal struggled to get the ball out of their half. The midfield trio of Henderson, Fabinho, and Thiago hunted the ball relentlessly and made the front 3’s job that much easier. A goal was waiting to happen as Salah, Mane, and Diaz pounded shots. Villarreal fans could do nothing but pray the Reds’ wouldn’t score.
The referee whistled for halftime. Liverpool had Villarreal in their pocket with Liverpool having the majority of possession and Villarreal having their only shot of the game.
To start the second half, Robertson switched the ball to Salah on the right side where Estupiñán couldn’t control him. Estupiñán fouled Salah twice outside the box and received a yellow card. Liverpool’s free kick amounted to nothing, but they got a corner three minutes later. Trent Alexander-Arnold curled in a cross to Mané at the top of the box who flicked it on to Van Dijk. Van Dijk settled it for Fabinho, and his shot went into the back of the net. Unfortunately, Van Dijk was offsides, but the goal to break the tie was close.
In the 53rd minute, Mané and Alexander-Arnold were able to combine for a quick 1-2, and Alexander-Arnold crossed the ball to Díaz in the box. His header went to Rulli’s hands. The next play, Henderson got the ball in the middle of the field and dribbled to the right wing. He played a quick pass to Salah and overlapped him. The captain’s cross was deflected off Estupiñán and floated in over Rulli’s hands. 1-0 Liverpool
The flood gates were open, and Liverpool pounced. A minute later in the 55th minute, Salah checked back to Alexander-Arnold and was able to turn at the top of the box. He dribbled at the Villarreal back line and slipped it in for Mané. Mané tucked it past Rulli for another Liverpool goal. 2-0 Liverpool
In the 62nd minute, Henderson switched the ball to Robertson, creating another scoring opportunity as he had wide open space. Lo Celso got behind Robertson and dragged him down, resulting in a yellow card.
Liverpool didn’t let the fouls affect them as they continued to attack down the flanks. Showing off his world-class passing, Trent Alexander-Arnold crossed the ball one-touch towards Robertson who tapped it in but was offsides.
Rulli had not yet gotten comfortable with the game yet as he nervously couldn’t hold on to any ball directed at the goal by Liverpool. Van Dijk’s long-range effort in the 68th minute was batted down by Rulli right at Mané’s feet. Luckily, Mané slipped but that could’ve been another goal for the Reds.
The first changes of the night came in the 71st minute as Unai Emery made three substitutions and Jurgen Klopp made two. For Villarreal, Serge Aurier came on for Parejo, Trigueros for Estupiñán, and Dia for Chukwueze. For Liverpool, Keita came on for Henderson and Jota replaced Mané.
Liverpool continued to possess the ball and probe Villarreal, content with their lead. Liverpool made their final two substitutions in the 81st minute with Gomez coming on for Alexander-Arnold and Origi for Díaz. Finally, Alcácer came on for Danjuma up top in the 86th minute for Villarreal.
Villarreal had two final attempts at the end of the game. The first one was a through ball over the top to Dia from Torres but Dia was offsides. The second was a late free kick for Villarreal, but Liverpool handled it easily.
Liverpool won this game handily and were the better team for the entirety of the game. They will look to hold on to their two-goal lead tomorrow 5/3 in Villarreal in order to reach the Final.
Here are the stats:
32’ Yellow Card – Van Dijk
47’ Yellow Card – Estupiñán
53’ Goal – Estupiñán (OG)
55’ Goal – Mané
57’ Substitution – Pedraza for Coquelin
62’ Yellow Card – Lo Celso
71’ Substitution – Aurier for Parejo
72’ Substitution – Trigueros for Estupiñán
72’ Substitution – Dia for Chukwueze
72’ Substitution – Keita for Henderson
73’ Substitution – Jota for Mané
81’ Substitution – Gomez for Alexander-Arnold
81’ Substitution – Origi for Díaz
86’ Substitution – Alcácer for Danjuma
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