The past few months have really been to the liking of LFC fans. On Saturday, Liverpool recorded their 44th win of the season with a 1-0 win at Newcastle United – a new record in the club’s history. In the Premier League, the “Reds” have taken 40 of the last 42 points available, in the 14 games in this period there was only a single point loss with the 2-2 at rivals Manchester City in April.
The last defeat in the league so far happened on December 28, 2021 against Leicester. There has only been one more since then, when Sadio Mane and company lost 1-0 to Inter Milan in the Champions League round of 16 second leg, which was irrelevant to progressing through the competition.
“We are excited”
Liverpool is the only team in Europe that has the chance to claim an unprecedented quadruple: After winning the League Cup, the trophies for the FA Cup, championship and Champions League are still up for distribution – Liverpool is heavily involved in each. “We are excited. I love this team and we’re going into the next game trying to be as good as we possibly can,” said Klopp. “It’s an encouraging situation, but the number of games we still have ahead of us is a lot.” Nevertheless, Klopp warned of a “dangerous result” and the great challenge of constantly jumping from one competition to the next.
There is much to suggest that the “Reds” in the Champions League will at least not let themselves be robbed of their place in the final on May 28th in the Stade de France in Paris. Because their performance last Wednesday in the first leg was characterized by dominance. 71 percent ball possession and 20 shots are just two key figures and proof that Liverpool could have played out an even more comfortable starting position. Klopp now expects more resistance: “Everything that defines us will be necessary in this game.”
Offensive department runs like clockwork
In the offensive department, things are currently running like clockwork. The side are just two goals short of a season-best tally of 138 goals in 1985/86. So it could already be in Spain. The January transfer Luis Diaz hit the ground running and even gave Klopp one more option alongside Mane, Mohammed Salah, Diogo Jota, Divock Origi, Roberto Firmino and Takumi Minamino. That’s good for the German because Firmino (foot injury) is also out on Tuesday and Origi comes back fresh from an upset stomach.
“It’s my job to make decisions. I don’t really have much else to do,” said Klopp after the win at the weekend. “And the decisions aren’t that difficult because the guys are all in good shape, really all in good shape.” Mane, who has 20 goals this season, said: “The competition between us is the best you can imagine because we are good friends. We try to help each other on the pitch.”
Villarreal needs football miracles
Villarreal, who have stood out as a frightening favorite this season in the Champions League with victories against Juventus Turin and Bayern Munich in the knockout phase, were unable to unleash even one of the dangerous counterattacks they had previously had at Anfield had been the key to success. On Saturday there was also an almost embarrassing 1:2 defeat against the penultimate Alaves in the domestic championship – despite a few changes.
With Gerard Moreno (knee injury) in attack missing in the second leg, the Europa League winners coached by Unai Emery will find it difficult to turn the tide. If that succeeds, an all-Spanish final is not off the table: Real Madrid have to make up for a 3-4 win in the first leg against Manchester City in the second semi-final on Wednesday.
