[Sport] Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal: Jurgen Klopp's Reds take control of Champions League semi

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Sadio Mane has scored 14 Champions League knockout goals, equalling Didier Drogba's record for African players

Liverpool took a giant stride towards another Champions League final with a commanding victory over Villarreal at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp's quadruple-chasing Reds had to demonstrate patience to break down a Villarreal side well organised by European specialist Unai Emery.

Liverpool were held at bay despite creating all the chances and needed a touch of fortune to break the deadlock after 53 minutes when Jordan Henderson's cross was deflected beyond Villarreal keeper Geronimo Rulli by Pervis Estupinan.

Sadio Mane increased Liverpool's control when he touched Mohamed Salah's pass beyond Rulli two minutes later.

The second leg in Villarreal is still to come next Tuesday but Liverpool now look firmly on course to meet either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final in Paris in May.

• Follow reaction to Liverpool's win here

Liverpool rumble on

Liverpool just seem to be gathering unstoppable momentum as all challenges, even from a Villarreal side that claimed the scalps of Juventus and Bayern Munich in the previous rounds, are overcome.

Villarreal set out to take the sting out of the home team from the first whistle, taking an age over goal-kicks and other restarts, but unlike the frustration that overtook them at times against Everton at Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool remained composed, seemingly safe in their knowledge that their chance would come.

And so it proved as they moved through the gears at the start of the second half, a change of tempo that proved too much for Villarreal, with Fabinho having a goal disallowed even before Henderson's attempted cross took that crucial touch off Estupinan.

Klopp was able to remove the tireless Henderson and goalscorer Mane from the fray as Liverpool remained in control.

Liverpool possess such threat that it is almost impossible for a team to simply sit out and hope to keep them away, such is the array of attacking riches now at Klopp's disposal.

It is a collection of such power that he was able to keep Diogo Jota on the bench until that two-goal cushion was established, such has been the stunning impact of January signing Luis Diaz.

Diaz gave an electrifying performance, with two first-half shots that were simply too powerful for Rulli to hold, while his change of pace troubled Villarreal all night.

Klopp and Liverpool will take nothing for granted but such is their form and confidence, it is hard to see how even a side as durable as Villarreal can haul this back.

Liverpool now turn their attentions back to the Premier League pursuit of Manchester City when they travel to in-form Newcastle United on Saturday (12:30 BST). The historic quadruple is still on and the celebrations at the final whistle here suggested the Kop genuinely believe that what most observers thought was impossible is now a genuine possibility.

helpHow to play

Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.

Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection

• LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool
• VillarrealVillarrealVillarreal

Liverpool

Starting XI

Avg

1. Squad number1Player nameAlissonAverage rating

   6.87

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2. Squad number66Player nameAlexander-ArnoldAverage rating

   7.12

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3. Squad number5Player nameKonatéAverage rating

   7.25

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4. Squad number4Player namevan DijkAverage rating

   7.26

   12345678910

5. Squad number26Player nameRobertsonAverage rating

   7.49

   12345678910

6. Squad number14Player nameHendersonAverage rating

   7.20

   12345678910

7. Squad number3Player nameFabinhoAverage rating

   7.20

   12345678910

8. Squad number6Player nameThiago AlcántaraAverage rating

   7.63

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9. Squad number11Player nameMohamed SalahAverage rating

   7.19

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10. Squad number10Player nameManéAverage rating

7.68

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11. Squad number23Player nameDíazAverage rating

7.50

12345678910

Substitutes

Avg

1. Squad number8Player nameKeïtaAverage rating

   6.78

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2. Squad number12Player nameGomezAverage rating

   6.82

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3. Squad number20Player nameDiogo JotaAverage rating

   6.89

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4. Squad number27Player nameOrigiAverage rating

   6.96

   12345678910

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Villarreal

Starting XI

Avg

1. Squad number13Player nameRulliAverage rating

   4.93

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2. Squad number8Player nameFoythAverage rating

   5.48

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3. Squad number3Player nameAlbiolAverage rating

   5.65

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4. Squad number4Player nameTorresAverage rating

   5.50

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5. Squad number12Player nameEstupiñánAverage rating

   5.10

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6. Squad number17Player nameLo CelsoAverage rating

   5.36

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7. Squad number6Player nameCapoueAverage rating

   5.15

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8. Squad number5Player nameParejoAverage rating

   5.07

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9. Squad number19Player nameCoquelinAverage rating

   4.98

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10. Squad number11Player nameChukwuezeAverage rating

5.08

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11. Squad number15Player nameDanjumaAverage rating

5.11

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Substitutes

Avg

1. Squad number9Player namePaco AlcácerAverage rating

   4.24

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2. Squad number14Player nameManu TriguerosAverage rating

   4.31

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3. Squad number16Player nameDiaAverage rating

   4.21

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4. Squad number24Player namePedrazaAverage rating

   4.33

   12345678910

5. Squad number25Player nameAurierAverage rating

   4.54

   12345678910

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• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Liverpool

Formation 4-3-3

1Alisson66Alexander-Arnold5Konaté4van Dijk26Robertson14Henderson3Fabinho6Thiago Alcántara11Salah10Mané23Díaz

• 1Alisson
• 66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forGomezat 81'minutes
• 5Konaté
• 4van Dijk_Booked at 32mins_
• 26Robertson
• 14HendersonSubstituted forKeïtaat 72'minutes
• 3Fabinho
• 6Thiago Alcántara
• 11Salah
• 10ManéSubstituted forJotaat 73'minutes
• 23DíazSubstituted forOrigiat 81'minutes

Substitutes

• 7Milner
• 8Keïta
• 12Gomez
• 13Adrián
• 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
• 18Minamino
• 20Jota
• 27Origi
• 32Matip
• 46R Williams
• 62Kelleher
• 67Elliott

Villarreal

Formation 4-4-2

13Rulli8Foyth3Albiol4Torres12Estupiñán17Lo Celso6Capoue5Parejo19Coquelin11Chukwueze15Danjuma

• 13Rulli
• 8Foyth
• 3Albiol
• 4Torres
• 12Estupiñán_Booked at 47mins_Substituted forTrigueros Muñozat 72'minutes
• 17Lo Celso_Booked at 62mins_
• 6Capoue
• 5ParejoSubstituted forAurierat 72'minutes
• 19CoquelinSubstituted forPedrazaat 57'minutes
• 11ChukwuezeSubstituted forDiaat 72'minutes
• 15DanjumaSubstituted forAlcácerat 86'minutes

Substitutes

• 1Asenjo
• 2Pérez Martínez
• 9Alcácer
• 10Iborra
• 14Trigueros Muñoz
• 16Dia
• 20Peña
• 22Mandi
• 23Gómez Bardonado
• 24Pedraza
• 25Aurier
• 35Jörgensen

Referee:

Szymon Marciniak

Attendance:

51,586

Match Stats

Home TeamLiverpoolAway TeamVillarreal

Possession

Home73%

Away27%

Shots

Home19

Away1

Shots on Target

Home5

Away0

Corners

Home10

Away2

Fouls

Home9

Away7

Live Text

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