Liverpool dominate Villarreal as Mohamed Salah embarrasses Man Utd target

Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 win over Villarreal in the Champions League semi-final first leg, with Mohamed Salah setting up the second goal with a nutmeg on Pau Torres

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Liverpool v Villarreal: Match in Pictures

Liverpool have one foot in the final of the Champions League, as they were 2-0 winners against Villarreal on Wednesday.

The Reds scored twice in two minutes in the second half after an own goal from Pervis Estupinan and a Sadio Mane finish, while the La Liga outfit offered nothing on the night to suggest they will be able to turn around the deficit in a fortnight’s time.

Liverpool will likely face a much tougher assignment on Saturday, when they travel to in-form Newcastle United for the lunchtime kick off in the Premier League.

Mirror Sport has your latest Liverpool headlines as Klopp’s team took another step towards footballing immortality on Wednesday night.

Should Klopp rotate his squad at Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime? Let us know in the comments section below!

Liverpool in ‘commanding position’ but tie not over

After a blood-and-thunder semi-final between Manchester City and Real Madrid on Tuesday, the clash at Anfield was a much more sedate affair.

While Liverpool struggled to break down a deep-sitting opponent in the first period, a stroke of luck from Henderson’s cross and a fine finish from Mane gave the Reds what felt like an inevitable lead.

However, Mirror Sport’s Colin Millar does not believe the tie is over yet, noting the excellent record Villarreal manager Unai Emery has in semi-finals.

“Excluding that spell in Paris, Emery has now won 22 two-legged knockout ties across Sevilla, Arsenal and Villarreal – with the win over Bayern his finest achievement yet,” it’s noted.

“Going into this tie, he had won his last 10 successive semi finals as a manager and he will not lose faith in his players with next week’s return leg in Spain despite the task in front of them.”

Read the story in full HERE.

Salah leaves Torres standing

Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet on Wednesday night, Mohamed Salah was a constant threat throughout and played the pass to Mane in the buildup to the second goal.

The Egyptian looked set to be crowded out by a number of Villarreal players, including reported Manchester United transfer target Pau Torres. Salah passed the ball through the centre-back’s legs and into the path of his fellow forward.

Although he had a difficult night at Anfield, Torres has been excellent in the main this season, playing a key role in Villarreal’s unlikely run to the final.

Read the story in full HERE.

Villarreal expected Anfield “hell”

Villarreal midfielder Etienne Capoue was under no illusions as to the task that faced his team on Merseyside on Wednesday, describing Anfield as “hell” to play at.

Capoue had first-hand experience of the stadium before making the switch to Spain, having played there for Tottenham Hotspur and then Watford.

“Anfield is hell, you have to say it how it is. It’s hell,” Capoue said ahead of the semi-final. “It’s the worst stadium I’ve been to in England. Whether it’s the atmosphere, the way they play… For 90 minutes, you live in hell. They have this ability to transcend themselves, to cause you nothing but problems, all the time, in any part of the field.

Read the story in full HERE.