Liverpool will see off Villarreal to reach Champions League final

Jurgen Klopp’s side did well to secure a 2-0 first leg lead against their Spanish opponents at Anfield, as they were up against a team that were intent on defending at all costs.

I can understand why Unai Emery took that approach as he knew his Villarreal team were no match for Liverpool in front of a passionate Anfield crowd.

Yet they will not be able to play in the same way in the second leg and that will play into Liverpool’s hands.

Villarreal are a good club, they are led by a manager who has a great record in European competitions and they deserve so much credit for getting so far in the Champions League.

But they are up against a great Liverpool side and are no match for them unless something remarkable takes place.

That could be an early red card for a Liverpool player, an opening goal for Villarreal or a big mistake to hand them a route back into the game.

The more likely scenario must be Emery will be forced to deploy more ambitious tactics as he looks to recover the two-goal deficit and that’s where Liverpool will pick them off.

Klopp rested some of his big names at Newcastle yesterday and still got the win that keeps the Premier League title push on track.

Now he can bring Trent Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho and Mo Salah back in for the Villarreal game and I fully expect Liverpool to book their place in a third Cup Final of this season.