Liverpool entered their first leg tie against Villarreal as firm favourites at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side were imperious in the league with the Yellow Submarine not quite. Unai Emery knew he had a real job on his hands.
As expected, the game was mostly being played in Villarreal’s half over the opening minutes. Sadio Mane had the best chance, finding space inside the box but skewing his header wide. Luis Diaz tried his luck but was denied by Geronimo Rulli.
12′ – Good opportunity. Salah is released down the right and checks inside. His cross meets the well-timed run of Mane, but he can’t direct his header on goal.
[0-0]#UCL | #LIVVIL pic.twitter.com/WYvM2k29kJ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2022
Diaz was proving to be a constant menace, Rulli parrying another shot away. Mane had the next best chance but his deflected shot spun just wide. Mo Salah had two quick chances but blazed his efforts over the bar. The best chance fell to Thiago whose belter from 25 yards out rattled the post. That was the closest Liverpool came to scoring in the opening half.
#UCL | 0-0 ⏱ 45’+1′ | HALF-TIME.
All square at the break in Anfield. pic.twitter.com/JhFef80OVZ
— Villarreal CF English (@VillarrealCFen) April 27, 2022
Fabinho had the ball in the net within five minutes of the restart following a corner. However, the goal was ruled out for offside. Nevertheless, it soon became 1-0 to Liverpool. Jordan Henderson’s cross from the right took a deflection of Pervis Estupinan and deceived Rulli to land up in the net. One soon became two with Salah slipping in Mane who poked a finish past Rulli.
53′ – Salah finds Henderson on the overlap and his cross takes a deflection off Estupiñán and loops in. Big goal in the tie!
[1-0]#UCL | #LIVVIL https://t.co/p5qK1jNQ75
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2022
Andy Robertson thought he had scored Liverpool’s third but was offside. Liverpool were dominating possession now with Villarreal looking down. They were trying…
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