Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal: superiority and qualifying lead for the final

Liverpool beat me 2-0 Villarreal at Anfield for the first Champions League semi-final between the two sides, a result unfair to her in relation to her image throughout the game.

Pervis Estoupinian’s own goal in the 53rd minute and Santio Mane’s goal in the 55th minute sealed the Reds’ victory against a side who ended the game on two last tries.

On Tuesday in “Theramika” everything will be evaluated for a place in the final of “Stand de France”.

Jurgen Klopp favored Luis Dias to flank Mohamed Salah and Santio Mane in attack, while Andrew Robertson played without regular support on the left due to the absence of Costas Tsimikas (unavailable from Tuesday). Unai Emery favored a quarterback in defense and Danny Parejo and Etienne Capu to become additional stoppers from defensive midfielders, closing most of the corridors to Geronimo Ruli’s home.

As expected, the first half was one-sided, but Liverpool didn’t have the huge chances that should match their dominance of the field. The shots from Mane and Salah weren’t that alarming, while some breaks like that for Pau Torres’ injury gave the ‘yellow sub’ a breather.

The best moment in this phase was a long-range shot by trained Thiago Alcantara, the ball hit Ruli’s right crossbar.

In part two, Emery ordered his two central midfielders to step up a bit more and give up some of their suspense duties. The ball had landed in Ruli’s net three times within 10 minutes of the cross. The first didn’t count because Virgil van Dyke was flagged for offside, but in the 53rd minute Jordan Henderson’s cross from the right saw the ball touch Pervis Estupinian’s foot and almost neutralized Rowley to make it 1-0. Two minutes later, great team action resulted in Salah’s first assist of the year and Mane’s 31st career goal at the tournament.

One extreme, Alfonso Pedratha, was Emery’s first move, who brought on a striker, Boulagie Dia, after 70 minutes. Klopp “refreshed” his team with Nabi Keita and Diogo Zota without getting any reaction from the Spaniards. Indeed, Andy Robertson also sent the ball into the net but the Scottish defender was ruled offside.

Even towards the end of the game, the guests were unable to get the ball on their feet and attack consistently. Their second final came in 87′ with a poor shot from Boulage Dia and Liverpool seemed happy with the situation, if not entirely with the result. The two teams met on May 3rd in “Theramika” and everything is open.

LIVERPOOL: Allison, Alexander Arnold (81′ Gomez), Van Dyke, Conate, Robertson, Thiago, Henderson (72′ Keita), Fambino, Salah, Mane (73′ Zota), Dias (81′ Origi)

ΒΙΓΙΑΡΕΑΛ: Ruli, Foit, Albiol, Torres, Estupinian (72′ Triggeros), Chukueze (72′ Dia), Parejo (72′ Orie), Kapou, Coquelin (57′ Pedratha), Lo Celso, Danzuma (86′ Alcather)

The first semi-final of the Champions League

The second semi-final of the Champions League