Liverpool take on this season’s Champions League dark horses Villarreal in tonight’s semi-final first leg, in what promises to be an intriguing contest at Anfield.
The game brings former Arsenal manager Unai Emery back to England, where he didn’t have the best time as Gunners boss, but Alan Feehely, editor of Football Espana, has spoken to CaughtOffside to provide some insight into what Liverpool can expect from these opponents.
Emery’s men may have upset Manchester United to win the Europa League last season, as well as surprising us all with a win to get past Bayern Munich in this year’s Champions League quarter-finals, but Alan tells us he still makes Liverpool the favourites for this tie…
COS: Liverpool are the big favourites to get past Villarreal in this year’s Champions League semi-finals, but do you expect there’ll be a fair few fans and pundits over here who are underestimating Unai Emery’s side?
Alan: I think that any sane person would agree that Liverpool are the heavy favourites for this tie. They’re playing at a level right now that I don’t think any other side in European football can compete with, peaking at the perfect moment. Having said that, the best team doesn’t always win the Champions League. It rarely does, in fact. Knockout football is a unique animal and there’s few better suited to it than Unai Emery. He knows how to get results in Europe and Villarreal have already proven this season that they can upset the odds.
Emery didn’t win over a lot of fans with his style of football at Arsenal, but what kind of tactical setup can we expect to see at Anfield on Wednesday night?
I think Emery is going to set Villarreal up in a narrow 4-4-1-1 shape and opt against starting natural wingers. Giovani lo Celso will play behind the striker, Arnaut Danjuma, but will come back to help Dani Parejo and Etienne Capoue in the centre of midfield. Essentially, Villarreal will hope to close space and not allow Liverpool the pockets in…
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