For one half, Liverpool bit their teeth at the well-organized Villarreal. In the second half, Henderson and Mané sank the Yellow Submarine at lightning speed in two minutes. The final of the Champions League beckons for Liverpool.
You don’t need to teach Villarreal coach Unai Emery how to take trophies. The Spaniard has won the Europa League four times since 2014. Three times in a row with Sevilla and last season with Villarreal. Each time with a team with a good organization. This approach also works in the Champions League, he has noticed in recent months against Juventus and Bayern Munich, among others. And so Villarreal came to play at Anfield as expected.
Emery had once again shown his good organization, forcing Liverpool to compete against a compact low block. Taking the tempo out of the game, keeping the spaces small, speculating on the counter and tactically disciplined defense. After just a few minutes, Villarreal goalkeeper Rulli took almost a minute to kick out. The away team played its beloved game and gave little away. Liverpool did not get further than some (dangerous) long shots.
Villarreal barely once with Alisson
Mane saw a ball deflect. Thiago hit the intersection with a spike. Luis Diaz cut in from the left several times and tested Rulli’s reflexes. Mo Salah sometimes saw an opening and knocked the ball over the defense of the Yellow Submarine, but Sadio Mané, who was completely free in the center of the box, didn’t time his jump well and so his header went wide. Salah also tried once in a while, but his attempt was over.
Photo: AFP
On the other side, Jurgen Klopp had opted for the more agile and faster Ibrahima Konaté in the center back instead of Joël Matip. He had to absorb the fast counters of Arnaut Danjuma (ex-Club Brugge), but afterwards that turned out to be unnecessary. In the first half, Villarreal barely came close to goalkeeper Alisson once. The few times Villarreal had possession of the ball was short-lived. After all, the Liverpool players ran after it like mad and quickly stole the ball from the Spaniards. Goals did not deliver that in the first half, however.
But Liverpool has already swam through more difficult waters and came out of the dressing room with renewed courage, as the Yellow Submarine’s engine stalled. On a corner, Fabinho made it 1-0 on a corner, but his goal was disallowed by Van Dijk’s prior offside. Moments later, it was Henderson who still made it 1-0. His pass deviated from Estupinan, causing the leather to land right behind Rulli.
Yellow Submarine zonk
Villarreal had to recover from the goal against and suddenly couldn’t walk anymore. Holes appeared in the previously compact block and Liverpool saw that too. Salah drew in some defenders in the center and stabbed deep at Mané at the right moment. He was able to work the 2-0 past Rulli with his tip. Villarreal midfielder Capoue watched with cramps from the ground as Liverpool went on to celebrate their second goal in two minutes.
Photo: ISOPIX
The Yellow Submarine sank even deeper after the 2-0. The 3-0 was out of Klopp’s book, in which the backs are so important. Left back Robertson completed the handsome assist from his colleague across the street at right back Alexander-Arnold. But again the goal was disallowed for offside. Villarreal got away well, but the final beckons for Liverpool, where Divock Origi was allowed to come in for another ten minutes. Thanks to the 2-0 win, the Reds keep an eye on the magical quadruple. Villerreal coach Emery knows after Wednesday evening that the Champions League is not the same as the Europa League. And that his approach works against many teams, but not against this strong Liverpool.
