Liverpool put themselves into the driving seat of their Champions League semi-final tie with a 2-0 win over a stubborn Villarreal side thanks to a pair of second half goals.
The Reds dominated the first half, but could not find a way through a solid and hard-working Villarreal side set up in typical Unai Emery fashion. The second half was different, however, and Jurgen Klopp’s side found the net on four occasions (though two were ruled out for offside) as they planted one foot in the final against a low scoring La Liga outfit.
It means that Villarreal, who generally don’t score too many goals, need two without reply against the Reds in the return leg just to take the game to extra time next Tuesday.
INCREDIBLE STUFF! ⚡️⚡️
Moments after Jordan Henderson’s deflected cross found the net, Sadio Mane doubles Liverpool’s lead! 🔴
All of a sudden the Reds are dominating Villarreal 💪#UCL pic.twitter.com/PDphIrPTAx
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 27, 2022
📰 Table Of Contents
Player ratings
Liverpool
Alisson – 6
Could have brought a chair or sat with the Liverpool fans behind the goal. The Brazilian didn’t have a save to make.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7
Virgil van Dijk – 6
One moment on the halfway line was all that blemished the report card of Liverpool’s colossus.
Ibrahima Konate – 6
A threat in the air from set-pieces, like van Dijk the Frenchman had little to do defensively.
Andy Robertson – 6
Was not troubled defensively but could not deliver when asked to in the final third.
Fabinho – 8
A rock at the heart of midfield, his ability to win the ball back high up the pitch was vital in keeping the pressure on Unai Emery’s side, that eventually led to them cracking.
Thiago – 10
Rattled the crossbar in the first half and ran the show in the second, Thiago was key to opening up the Spanish side and has been a major difference maker in Klopp’s team.
😯 In matches against Man Utd, Everton and Villarreal, Thiago has completed 326 of his 337 attempted passes. Just 11 misplaced in 260 minutes on the pitch #UCL pic.twitter.com/zF0mZf7zpC
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 27, 2022
Jordan Henderson – 7
Was energetic in midfield, but worked far better when asked to push on in the second half, opening up the space for his more technically gifted teammates.
Luis Diaz – 8
The only real bright spark in the first half, Diaz was a constant threat and regularly had the beating of Juan Foyth in the clash between the pair. How Liverpool only had to beat Tottenham for his signature is continuing to baffle.
Sadio Mane – 7
Headed over in the first half and struggled to impose himself. Netted the all-important second goal for his side, though, with a cute finish.
Mo Salah – 7
One of his quieter nights, but the Egyptian remained a threat and provided the assist for Mane to double his side’s lead.
Subs:
Naby Keita – 6
Offered additional energy late on.
Diogo Jota – 5
Didn’t have an impact when he came on.
Divock Origi – 5
Hardly touched the ball after coming on for Diaz.
Villarreal
Geronimo Rulli – 5
Shaky in the first half and was very lucky that his parries fell to yellow rather than red shirts. Continued in the same vein in the second.
Juan Foyth – 6
Solid but unspectacular, was perhaps fortunate not to be at fault for his side falling behind as Diaz regularly got the better of him.
Raul Albiol – 8
The veteran defender threw his head, body and boot at anything and everything sent his way, and is one of few that can come away from the game with some credit.
Pau Torres – 7
Only behind his partner in terms of dedication and performance, it is clear to see why Premier League clubs are circling.
Pervis Estupinan – 4
Struggled against Salah and Alexander-Arnold, even more so once booked, and saw the opener fly in off him. A night to forget for the full-back.
Dani Parejo – 4
Anonymous against Liverpool’s hardworking trio, and taken off after an hour.
Etienne Capoue – 5
The former Tottenham man could do nothing to stem the flow or disrupt the dominance.
Francis Coquelin – 4
Deployed in a wide area, in truth he looked lost and was taken off through injury.
Samuel Chukwueze – 5
Had a quiet night and hardly got the ball.
Giovani Lo Celso – 7
Made one vital sliding block in the first half to prevent Mo Salah from opening the scoring.
Arnaut Danjuma – 4
A quiet night for the Dutchman who spent most of the game chasing shadows as expected. Not a fair reflection of his talents.
An easy game for Alisson! 😳😅#LIVVIL #BBCFootball #UCL
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) April 27, 2022
Subs:
Alfonso Pedraza – 6
Could do nothing to change the outcome.
Serge Aurier – 5
Came on for the booked Estupinan, but didn’t really stand out.
Manu Trigueros – 5
Came on and was equally ineffective as the midfielders he replaced.
Boulaye Dia – 4
Couldn’t get a touch despite coming on with his side chasing a goal.
What the experts said
Feels like Luis Diaz is playing this game very well. Take your shots from range, make Villarreal come out to meet you next time and the holes will open up.
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) April 27, 2022
12 – Since 2003-04 (when this data is available), no team have had more first half shots in a UEFA Champions League semi-final without scoring than Liverpool this evening (12). Knocking.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2022
Mohamed Salah’s pass to Sadio Mane was his first assist in the #UCL this season.
He was just waiting for the semi-finals. 😅 pic.twitter.com/KtxNsZy3s8
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 27, 2022
14 – Sadio Mané has tonight netted his 14th goal in the UEFA Champions League knockout stages, equalling Didier Drobga’s record as the African with the most such goals in the competition’s history. Pride. pic.twitter.com/fwVTLoxqbf
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2022
They’re such a good side are @LFC that they make tricky encounters look fairly straightforward.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) April 27, 2022
9 – Liverpool have won nine matches in the UEFA Champions League this season; the most games they have ever won in a single campaign in European competition (excluding qualifiers). Juggernaut. pic.twitter.com/Nch2bFQ57x
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2022
103 – Thiago Alcántara 🇪🇸 ha intentado 103 pases ante el Villarreal (99 completados), su mejor registro en un mismo partido con el Liverpool en la Liga de Campeones. Magisterio. pic.twitter.com/Ius0wPHp2f
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 27, 2022
What the fans said
Villarreal accumulated 0.00(xG) against Liverpool in the second half this evening.
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) April 27, 2022
Mané, Thiago, Keïta, Diaz and Konate all hitting levels between excellent and god-mode in the final stretch of the season, too. This is maybe the greatest Premier League squad of all time tbh.
— Mark White (@markwhlte) April 27, 2022
Really brilliant win against a very tough side, who was your MOTM?
Thought Fabinho was superb 🔥
— Matt Craig (@MattHDGamer) April 27, 2022
Jordan Henderson with a real captains performance tonight, he was immense , he ran himself into the ground tonight , brilliant display , very effective on and off the ball , when you have that willingness and desire from the centre of midfield it will get you on the front foot.
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) April 27, 2022
What you might have missed
Former Tottenham and Villareal midfielder extended his miserable time at Anfield, having now lost five times in Liverpool at a combined score of 20-1.
🗣️ Etienne Capoue on playing at Anfield to @AFP: “Anfield is hell. You have to say it how it is. It’s hell”
😵 He has played at Anfield on four previous occasions in his career. Those matches have ended in a combine score of 18-1 to Liverpool #UCL pic.twitter.com/NWgt2r3Nku
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 27, 2022
