Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal: Estupinan own goal and Mane give Reds first-leg lead

A
game
that
was
never
likely
to
match
the
excitement
of
Tuesday’s
seven-goal
thriller
between
Manchester
City
and
Real
Madrid
finally
came
to
life
in
the
second
half
as
an
own
goal
from
Pervis
Estupinan
and
a
Sadio
Mane
strike
sealed
a
strong
first-leg
advantage
for
the
Reds.

Unai
Emery’s
side
defended
resolutely
for
much
of
the
game,
managing
to
get
to
half-time
goalless,
but
they
were
ultimately
undone
by
some
typically
fast
attacking
from
Jurgen
Klopp’s
team
in
the
second
half.

1

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This
was
Liverpool’s
12th
European
Cup
or
Champions
League
semi-final,
with
no
English
side
playing
in
the
final
four
more
often
(level
with
Manchester
United),
and
was
also
the
first
time
the
Reds
have
played
in
the
semi-finals
of
the
EFL
Cup,
FA
Cup
and
European
Cup
in
the
same
campaign,
and
it
was
that
experience
of
the
big
occasion
that
ultimately
shone
through.

14
–
Sadio
Mané
has
tonight
netted
his
14th
goal
in
the
UEFA
Champions
League
knockout
stages,
equalling
Didier
Drobga’s
record
as
the
African
with
the
most
such
goals
in
the
competition’s
history.
Pride.

pic.twitter.com/fwVTLoxqbf

—
OptaJoe
(@OptaJoe)

April
27,
2022

It
was
a
tentative
start
from
the
home
side,
though
Mane
will
have
expected
to
do
better
with
a
header
when
found
by
a
neat
cross
from
Mohamed
Salah
early
on
with
the
Senegalese
forward
directing
his
effort
wide.

Thiago
Alcantara
came
as
close
as
anyone
to
breaking
the
deadlock
in
the
first
half
with
a
shot
from
almost
30
yards
that
crashed
against
the
left-hand
post,
but
the
visitors
did
a
good
job
of
frustrating
the
Premier
League
side
in
the
opening
45
minutes.

An
electric
beginning
to
the
second
half
from
Klopp’s
side
finally
saw
them
take
the
lead
in
the
53rd
minute,
with
Jordan
Henderson’s
cross
from
the
right
taking
a
fortunate
deflection
off
the
foot
of
Estupinan
and
flying
past
Rulli
at
his
near
post.

Another
arrived
just
two
minutes
later
as
a
good
passing
move
ended
with
Salah
sliding
a
ball
through
to
Mane,
who
prodded
under
the
goalkeeper
to
make
it
2-0
to
the
Reds.

The
Yellow
Submarine
avoided
further
damage
but
have
it
all
to
do
when
the
two
meet
again
in
the
second
leg
at
the
El
Madrigal
next
Tuesday.

What
does
it
mean?
Liverpool
show
patience
to
break
through,
again

Liverpool
finally
overcame
a
determined
Everton
in
the
Merseyside
derby
on
Sunday,
it
was
said
to
be
perfect
preparation
for
Villarreal,
who
were
always
going
to
come
to
Anfield
to
frustrate
in
the
first
leg.

That
proved
to
be
the
case
as,
like
with
the
Toffees,
Villarreal
kept
Liverpool
at
bay
in
the
first
half,
running
down
the
clock,
blocking
all
attacks
and
keeping
their
net
unbothered.

However,
the
relentless
Reds
again
managed
to
force
a
couple
of
second
half
goals,
having
had
19
shots
in
all,
facing
just
one
solitary
effort
from
the
visitors.

Thiago
once
again
shines
in
the
middle

The
former
Barcelona
and
Bayern
Munich
midfielder
has
been
purring
in
Liverpool’s
midfield
in
recent
games,
and
he
was
on
form
again
here
as
he
helped
to
dissect
a
stubborn
opposition.

Thiago
completed
99
of
103
passes
(96.1
per
cent),
enjoying
a
fantastic
pass
completion
percentage
in
the
opposition’s
half
of
94.1
from
68
attempts.
He
also
made
more
interceptions
than
anyone
(five)
and
gained
possession
10
times
in
all.

More
English
misery
for
Yellow
Submarine

Emery’s
men
put
up
a
brave
fight
but
eventually
succumbed
to
a
strong
and
determined
Liverpool
team,
and
it
maintained
a
poor
record
for
Villarreal
in
England.

Since
a
2-1
victory
on
Merseyside
against
Everton
in
August
2005,
Villarreal
have
not
managed
to
win
any
of
their
last
nine
away
games
in
England
in
all
competitions
(drawn
three,
lost
six),
having
also
tasted
defeat
at
Manchester
United
in
the
group
stages
earlier
this
season.

What’s
next?

Liverpool
travel
to
Newcastle
United
on
Saturday
as
they
resume
their
title
chase
in
the
Premier
League,
while
Villarreal
are
away
to
Deportivo
Alaves
on
the
same
day.

The
former
Barcelona
and
Bayern
Munich
midfielder
has
been
purring
in
Liverpool’s
midfield
in
recent
games,
and
he
was
on
form
again
here
as
he
helped
to
dissect
a
stubborn
opposition.