Updated on 4/27/2022 at 10:57 p.m
- Villarreal defenders can only withstand constant pressure from Liverpool for one half.
- Then the Klopp team strikes and still has the best chance of winning all four titles this season.
Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool FC didn’t let Bayern Munich’s fright FC Villarreal stop them on their way to the historic title four-pack. The Reds came on Wednesday in the semi-final first leg of the Champions League against the Europa League winner from Spain to a well-deserved 2-0 (0-0) and are thus facing their third final entry in five years. As early as next Tuesday, Liverpool can make progress for the final in Paris on May 28th perfect in the second leg. For Villarreal, on the other hand, after the successes over Juventus Turin and FC Bayern, another coup is a long way off.
A cross from Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson (53′) and star striker Sadio Mané (55′), deflected into the goal by Pervis Estupinan, sealed the Klopp team’s victory. This means that the English still have the best chance of winning all four titles for the first time in the club’s history. They have already won the League Cup, they have reached the final in the FA Cup against Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel and are in the championship Liverpool just a point behind long-time rivals Manchester City.
Villarreal slowed the pace in the first half
The spectators did not get to see a spectacle like the day before when Man City beat Real Madrid 4: 3 in the first semi-final. with that clop not counted either. Because Villarreal was well prepared for the power football of the Reds in the first half by the clever coach Unai Emery, who won 31 of his last 37 knockout duels in the European Cup. It was only in the second half that the Spanish defensive artists were no longer able to cope with the constant pressure and could still be satisfied with the result.
Until then, patience was required at Klopp. Because the seventh-placed team in the Primera Division knew very well how to delay the pace, break the flow of the English game and defend compactly on the defensive. In addition, the Spaniards had the necessary luck in the first round, such as Thiago’s long-range shot on the post (42nd).
The two Liverpool offensive stars Mané (12th/33rd) and Mohamed Salah (27th/35th) also lacked precision in their chances. 12:0 shots on goal after 35 minutes expressed the one-sidedness of the game. For LFC goalkeeper Alisson it was a nearly idle evening.
Despite the unsuccessful start, the Klopp team didn’t get nervous, increased the pressure again in the second round and was whipped forward by their own supporters. Suddenly the magical Anfield mood was there and Villarreal staggered like a battered boxer. (dpa/fra)