Liverpool

The Reds outshot the Yellow Submarine, 12–1, in the first half, but things remained goalless at Anfield.

History between the two sides is scant, but they did meet in a 2016 Europa League semifinal, with Liverpool roaring back to win 3–1 on the heels of a 3–0 second-leg win. Sadio Mané followed that up in the 12th minute with a seemingly perfect chance. It sits a point out of first in the Premier League with five matches to go and is the favorite to reach the Champions League final despite what Unai Emery’s side has been able to do thus far.

Liverpool sunk Villarreal in a second half blitz that put them in control of the tie, with Mohamed Salah and Luis Díaz on song. This is what we spotted.

It could well be a long-term solution, but the initial honeymoon had to end sometime. There is a balance to be struck, with long shots not necessarily the most repeatable way through a low block, but it is an extra weapon that Liverpool have been lacking of late. Usually the metronomic presence in the middle, carving out openings with his passing and vision, it is easy to forget just how well Thiago hits a ball. Speaking of long shots, Thiago nearly graced Anfield with the best goal the stadium has seen in a long time. It’s been easy to forget that Mané isn’t a seasoned veteran through the middle in recent weeks. Liverpool fans everywhere will be gutted that Virgil van Dijk's piledriver did not find the net, but all in all it was a job very well done. But Luis Díaz looks to be the newest tool at Klopp’s disposal. Yet in amongst this ‘drought’, another side to Salah’s game has come to the fore. In relative terms, the goals have dried up for Mohamed Salah of late. Just as telling was how the home side capitalised on the gift. It came as Klopp’s side were hammering on the door, with Villarreal pinned deep in their own territory by the relentless press. However, just as at the weekend, the first goal eventually came, and Liverpool did not look back.

The Champions League semifinals are in motion and todays first leg features Liverpool and Villarreal. Heres what happened during the match.

And Liverpool proved victorious after a stellar second half rush, defeating Villarreal 2-0. Liverpool’s Thiago Alcântara, Andrew Robertson and Luis Diaz made headway in the first 45 minutes of play. The first half proved the match was even. Liverpool’s Fábio Tavares had the ball in the net but an offside was called against Virgil van Dijk. The game might not have had the melodramatics of Real Madrid and Manchester City’s match yesterday, but the competition was clear. The draw was +460 and the over-under for total goals scored was 2.5. It was no surprise that Liverpool would prove triumphant.

Jurgen Klopp said Liverpool have to remain "on alert" despite putting one foot in the Champions League final with a dominant 2-0 win over Villarreal in the ...

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An own goal and a Sadio Mane strike earned Liverpool a 2-0 victory in their Champions League semi-final first-leg against Villarreal on Wednesday, ...

It was just important that we kept going and believed that we would eventually break them down. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com

Liverpool have one foot in the Champions League final after beating Villarreal on Wednesday in their semifinal first leg, 2-0. Similar to their Merseyside ...

He nearly scored after rocketing a shot off the corner of the goal in the first half. The Reds did produce an xG of 1.52 on 19 shots, and while a less comfortable result looked likely early in the second half, the chances were still there for it to be a bigger win. Thiago hit the post from 30 meters, Andrew Robertson had a goal called off due to offside and more. Confident. It was not an outstanding performance, but they really had next to nothing to worry about in defense and could largely focus on trying to achieve a comfortable margin. Villarreal need a two-goal win to force extra time, and anything superior would see them pull off an all-time shocker. Unai Emery's side did not threaten once, failing to record a shot on goal while finishing with just one shot overall.

Two goals in two minutes undid Villarreal boss Unai Emery's defensive game plan as Pervis Estupinan deflected Jordan Henderson's cross into his own net before ...

However, Liverpool are a different beast six years on and the limitations of a side sitting seventh in La Liga were shown up as they struggled to mount any sort of response to going behind. The last thing the visitors could afford was the floodgates opening, but they were powerless to stop the waves of Liverpool attacks. Liverpool (AFP) – Liverpool are on the brink of a third Champions League final in five seasons after breaking Villarreal’s resistance to win the first leg of their semi-final 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday.

The Reds are a step away from returning to the European title match after surviving the Villarreal experience with a relentlessness that was ultimately ...

Liverpool probably needed a third to feel absolutely certain, but after an extremely one-sided game, even against a Villarreal side that hasn’t lost at home since November, it should go on to reach a third Champions League final in five years. Emery’s entire approach is to thwart the opponent and strike on the break; as soon as it comes out to chase the game in Spain, Liverpool should be able to prosper with the transitions at which it excels. The idea of a first XI is perhaps a little old-fashioned, but a pattern is emerging in Jürgen Klopp’s selections. Like Manchester City on Tuesday, Liverpool may feel it may have made more of that, that it might have had the tie entirely wrapped up. Not for the first time in recent years, the physical difference between the Premier League and La Liga was clear. But a little calm is no bad thing and if this is, as it should be, a precursor to a Champions League final, few of a red persuasion will be too concerned.

Villarreal coach Unai Emery was relieved that they will go into the second leg of their Champions League semifinal with Liverpool down only 2-0.

I can promise our fans they are going to see a Villarreal that they can identify with in the second leg." "At home we are a totally different team, we are going to go out there and play to win. "They could play the second half like you played the first half, and if they do that then all the advantages we have go away.

Liverpool beat Villarreal and look set to book another Champions League final spot. But the Anfield side know very well that the job isn't done yet.

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - An own goal and a Sadio Mane strike earned Liverpool a 2-0 victory in their Champions League semi-final first-leg again...

Liverpool are on the brink of a third Champions League final in five seasons after breaking Villarreal's resistance to win the first leg of their semi-final ...

Liverpool defeated Villarreal 2-0 at Anfield on Wednesday, earning a vital first-leg victory in the clubs' 2021-22 UEFA Champions League semi-final tie.

Buoyed by their sudden cushion, the Reds didn't let up. The defender deflected Jordan Henderson's cross from the right flank over goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, giving the home side a fortuitous lead, albeit one that was deserved from the run of play. - Why Katie Taylor vs.

As Liverpool fans all around Anfield celebrated their Champions League semi-final first leg victory over Villarreal, it was fitting they choose a Beatles ...

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Part of the irresistible appeal of this Villarreal CF side and their fairytale run to these Champions League semifinals has been their ability to ride their ...

There is still an opportunity for them to do the unthinkable next week -- it is just that much harder after this. The important thing is that it is not enough to end their dreamlike run here and now. The sense of occasion might also create those unique senses that a miracle might be in the air and see the Spaniards pull level at some point. This was always the risk, though. Difficulty.— OptaJose (@OptaJose) pic.twitter.com/x3JMV5zNch April 27, 2022 Once the ball had hit the back of the Anfield net for the first time in Liverpool's favor on Wednesday, it was simply a question of how long it would be until Jurgen Klopp's men suffocated the Spaniards enough to score again.

Get a report of the Liverpool vs. Villarreal 2021-22 UEFA Champions League, Semifinals football match.

Klopp's side remained in control and were dutifully rewarded as Henderson created the breakthrough on 53 minutes. "We didn't do enough to lament about anything. Mane enjoyed the best chance in an uneventful first half played mostly in Villarreal's half. "They are a very organised team and we knew they would make it difficult. "Majority of the game, our counter-press was really good. It was just important that we kept going and believed that we would eventually break them down.

Sadio Mane has revealed that Liverpool have changed their normal training schedule to help Muslim players taking part in Ramadan.

If you train in the morning then you have time to rest and go home. Speaking to beIN SPORTS, Mane explained: "It's not easy because playing and training and doing Ramadan is not easy at all. Keita made a 20-minute cameo in the second half after replacing Henderson.

Statistics have come to favor Thiago, and they did again in Liverpool's win over Villarreal in the Champions League. But his passing is best measured in how ...

They do not advertise which ones start with that quick shimmy of the hips, the one that begins with Thiago facing one direction and ends with him scampering in the other, at least two defenders trailing in his wake, still processing what has happened. This iteration should become the third Liverpool team in five years to reach the Champions League final — all it has to do, after all, is not lose by two goals next week — but it is conceptually distinct from both its predecessors. They are better read, instead, as brushstrokes on a canvas, each one making the image a little clearer, each one signed by a master at work. It is that they do not tell you what any of those passes did. He explained — or, at least, seemed to be explaining — to Jota that while van Dijk was a fine selection, he had been open and available, too, and technically, if he was being picky, in a better position. It is hard to be certain what, exactly, lies at the root of soccer’s relatively recent but now all-consuming obsession with yield.