It’s one thing to be the hottest favorite, another to stand your ground. Liverpool have taken a big step towards their 10th European Cup final on a night when they refused to lose sight of their plan; which has brought them to the point where an unprecedented quadrupling is possible.
Villarreal came to frustrate. It was an approach that had worked in previous rounds, helping them stage stunning raids to defeat Juventus and Bayern Munich. With the goal empty at the break, Unai Emery, the manager, must have felt he was part of the path to more looting.
Liverpool stayed cool. They kept pushing on the forefoot to manipulate the ball, only with more pace, more feel. And they blasted the goals with two shots in quick succession, the first when a Jordan Henderson cross was deflected by the unfortunate Pervis Estupiñán to dodge goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli and tumble over him into the far post.
It was the first time Liverpool scored a real overlap and as Villarreal faltered they unloaded what felt like the decisive blow. Emery’s team had been touchless and unyielding in the first half. Now they watched as Mohamed Salah picked up a pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold and turned, eyes wide, sensing an opportunity.
Sadio Mané felt it too. He made his move, Salah played it in, jabbing the pass through Pau Torres’ legs and Mané stretched to get to the finish as quickly as possible before anyone could get too close. The ball hissed deep past Rulli.
The traveling Villarreal support were determined to savor the opportunity and what an opportunity it was for them. It’s a club that didn’t play top-flight football in Spain until 1998/99; their a city whose population could have fit in Anfield. Seventh-placed team in La Liga, Villarreal won just one major title last season – the Europa League. This was one of the great David vs. Goliath stories of this stage in the Champions League.
A Jordan Henderson cross is deflected by Pervis Estupiñán (left) and beats goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli. Photo: Carl Recine/Action Images/ReutersThe 3,000 fans who attended cheered their team on throughout the game and after the final whistle, but in next Tuesday’s second leg, despite the defiant chatter from her dressing room, it feels like a long way back for them. Liverpool have missed just one important result since January 2 – the 2-2 Premier League draw at Manchester City on April 10. They haven’t lost by two goals all season.
Liverpool have had to exercise patience after their initial efforts failed to produce a breakthrough. You might have done it. Mané couldn’t control after a corner kick from Ibrahima Konaté – the ball came to him quickly – but the big chance of the early stages came when Salah collected a pass from Mané on the right and looked up. Mané charged, Salah’s cross was perfect but the header was completely wrong.
Emery’s team – compact in their 4-4-2 formation – barely crossed halfway, but that was because Liverpool didn’t let them and their pressing usually stifled. For Villarreal it was all about the blocks and the tackles to keep the form.
Emery, who helped Sevilla beat Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final, could be proud of his players’ at times dominating the ball as they tried to play out in the first half. But Liverpool had more chances.
Sadio Mané celebrates after scoring Liverpool’s second goal. Photo: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianSalah rolled wide of the target, Mané turned and saw a shot deflected wide of the target while Salah held up a volley. He had been singled out by Alexander-Arnold’s lush volley cut-back after a diagonal by Andy Robertson. Thiago Alcântara also hit the post from 30 meters.
Villarreal is mentally tied to Liverpool. Their nickname “Yellow Submarine” derives from the color of their shirts and the tune of Liverpool’s most famous band. The Beatles released it in 1966 and in the 1967/68 season a group of Villarreal fans began playing it on a battery-powered record player at their club’s games.
The Anfield crowd didn’t feel very connected but football is a game of styles and Liverpool had to overcome that game. They found a way in the second half.
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Fabinho had seen a goal ruled out from a corner, Virgil van Dijk had come at him from an offside position and the breakthrough was good luck, although Liverpool will argue they drove it themselves. After moving from left to right, Henderson took a pass from Salah and Estupiñán’s curl was crucial.
When Mané struck, one could fear for Villarreal, Liverpool felt blood. Robertson had the ball in the net only to be called offside, Van Dijk processed Rulli and Luis Díaz went just wide twice. Two goals felt like enough.