The return legs of the Champions League semifinals are set to be played this week and Liverpool will aim to be the first team to book their ticket to Saint-Denis on Tuesday against Villarreal.
The Reds hold a 2-0 lead in the match-up meaning Villarreal will have to come out all guns blazing. Bookmaker William Hill has the odds at 2.60 for the hosts to score first. The odds are at 1.50 for Liverpool to grab the opening goal and at 13.00 for the two to play out a goalless draw.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: May 2nd, 5:30 P.M. (EST)
Villarreal offered very little goal threat at Anfield last week but manager Unai Emery has promised that his team will be “very different” on their home ground.
Emery has masterminded a couple of huge triumphs over Juventus and Bayern Munich this season and now has to figure out a way to deliver Liverpool their first multi-goal defeat of the season.
“We’ll have to produce a perfect game, reach excellence or get close to it to be able to do something that no one has done to them,” said the former Arsenal boss at his pregame press conference.
Trying to come back from a 2-0 deficit against Liverpool is a daunting task although this shouldn’t be a walk in the park for Jürgen Klopp’s men either.
The Yellow Submarine has taken only three home losses in all competitions this season and boasts a very good run of four wins in five home games ahead of Tuesday’s clash.
Liverpool’s commitments on multiple fronts might work in Villarreal’s favor as well. The Reds are trying to become the first club in English football to win four trophies in a single season. May is going to be full of huge games for them and it’s bound to take a lot out of the players both physically and mentally.
Klopp made some very bold choices against Newcastle to keep his side fresh over the weekend and things worked out pretty well as the team collected a fifth consecutive win in all competitions and extended its unbeaten run to 12 games. Mohamed Salah played just 20 minutes and Trent Alexander-Arnold got the afternoon completely off.
Liverpool might have a comfortable lead in the tie but all the big guns are expected to feature on Tuesday. The six-time European champions have advanced from 32 of 37 UEFA competition ties when they have won the first leg at home and it will be a huge shock if they don’t get through here, but this Villarreal side has proven its stubbornness and they certainly won’t go down easily.
