Liverpool welcome Villarreal to Anfield in the first leg of their semi-final tie in 2021-22 UEFA Champions League.
Liverpool enter this tie chasing a 10th major final appearance in Europe’s biggest intercontinental competition, as well as a third Champions League Final under Jurgen Klopp’s reign.
Villarreal meanwhile are looking to clinch an early advantage heading into the second leg at home, as the Spanish club chase a first appearance in the Champions League Final.
Team News
Roberto Firmino is unlikely to be available for Liverpool as he continues his recovery from a foot injury which has kept him out of their last two matches.
Manager, Klopp meanwhile has no fresh injury or suspension concerns to report due to resetting of yellow card rule for the semi-finals, which means that Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota are no longer one booking away from a match ban.
Villarreal will be without Yeremi Pino who is ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Gerard Moreno (hamstring) and Alberto Moreno (knee) both remain absent, with the latter missing out on the opportunity to face his former team, having joined Villarreal from Liverpool in 2019.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have won just one of two previous meetings against Villarreal (W1, L1), which also came at the semi-final stage – albeit in 2015-16 Europa League as they prevailed 3-1 on aggregate.
- Villarreal lost their only previous visit to Anfield in May 2016, as the Spanish club lost 3-0 in the second leg of their 2015-16 Europa League semi-final to exit the competition.
- Only three starting players from last meeting between these teams are set to be involved here (James Milner, Alberto Moreno and Mario), although Moreno now plays for Villarreal instead of Liverpool.
- Three of Liverpool’s nine yellow cards at home in the Champions League this season have been waved before half-time.
- Villarreal lost their only previous away leg of a Champions League semi-final, which came in April 2006 as they suffered a 1-0 defeat at Arsenal coincidentally in the first leg before drawing 0-0 at home.
Prediction
Having endured a more difficult Merseyside derby win over Everton than anticipated on Sunday, I am hoping that Liverpool will turn up with a stronger performance because they did seem slightly off-colour in energy and were consequently forced to play a fairly clinical patient attacking game.
Klopp though will be hoping that his defence has the same refereeing luck that they had on Sunday because they really should of conceded two penalties, especially given how sloppy some of their close contact into the box fouling was at times.
Villarreal meanwhile can hold absolutely no fear coming into this match after knocking out Juventus and Bayern Munich in the last two rounds, although their defensive style is quite similar to how Everton played on Sunday which might suit Liverpool if they have learned anything from that win.
Unai Emery’s Yellow Submarines however have shown that they can’t be written off on the counter-attack but they’re going to have to be clinical, otherwise this tie could be half-over by the end of the first leg.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal
Result: Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal
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