Liverpool secures a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash at Anfield.
The two sides played out a goalless first half before the deadlock was broken when Jordan Henderson’s cross was deflected past Geronimo Rulli by Pervis Estupinan.
Sadio Mane then doubled the Reds’ lead with a close-range finish following great work from Mohamed Salah.
Jurgen Klopp’s men will take a two-goal advantage to El Madrigal, where they will be in a solid position to advance to the competition’s final. The Yellow Submarine have it all to do next week.
Starting lineup:
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson;
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson;
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz.
VILLARREAL (4-4-2): Geronimo Rulli;
Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol, Pau Torres, Pervis Estupinan;
Samuel Chukwueze, Dani Parejo, Etienne Capoue, Francis Coquelin;
Giovani Lo Celso, Arnaut Danjuma.
Goals:
1-0 LIVERPOOL. The Reds take the lead as Henderson’s cross deflects off Estupinan and beats Rulli at his near post. Henderson is played into space by Salah down the right-wing and looks to send a delivery into the middle. However, Estupinan sticks a boot and inadvertently deflects it into the net as Rulli gets a hand to it but cannot keep it out.
2-0. The Reds get a quick-fire double as Mane collects Salah’s through-ball before beating Rulli with a low strike. Salah weaves his way into the Villarreal box before sliding an offload through for his teammate’s run. However, Mane gets ahead of Rulli and finds the bottom-right corner with his strike.
So, what’s next?
Liverpool is next in action in the Premier League on Saturday on the road to Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, Villarreal Football Club is in action on the same day away to Alaves in LaLiga.
