Champions League Semifinals: Odds shorten for Liverpool to progress, following home advantage against Villarreal

This is everything that Liverpool could have hoped for, a job very much done. A victory in the first leg, with no goals conceded. They take a 2 goal lead into the return fixture and are favourites to win the tie at this stage. In the previous phase of the competition, Liverpool won against Benfica; Villarreal, for their part, managed to beat Bayern Munich. Unai Emery’s team will doubtless be frustrated to have lost, but also to have not gained any kind of advantage by way of an away goal. They therefore have much to do, if they are to secure a place in the Champions League final.

After an un-eventful first half, Whatever was said in the dressing room at half time, seemed to have a positive effect on The Reds who started the second half well, thanks to Pervis Estupinan giving The Reds the lead, at 53 minutes. Liverpool then scored once more and increased their advantage thanks to a goal from Sadio Mane at the 55 minute mark with a final score of 2-0.

For Liverpool, Naby Keita, Diogo Jota, Joe Gomez and Divock Origi, came on for Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz. Villarreal brought on Alfonso Pedraza, Serge Aurier, Manu Trigueros, Boulaye Dia and Paco Alcacer, to replace Francis Coquelin, Dani Parejo, Pervis Estupinan, Samuel Chukwueze and Arnaut Danjuma.

There were bookings for Virgil Van Dijk from Liverpool. For Villarreal, Pervis Estupinan and Giovani Lo Celso saw yellow.

This will be a very well received result for, on the back of a dismal draw in the first leg. It sets the stage for them well as they now move forward to the next stage of the Champions League.