"They won't know what's hit them" was Jürgen Klopp's promise via the front page of the Liverpool Echo, something of a hostage to fortune perhaps considering Borussia Dortmund raced into a two-goal lead here in the last round and it was stoppage time before Dejan Lovren was finally able to tilt the tie the home side's way.
The Liverpool manager was careful not to take anything for granted – “great moments and great nights don’t just happen at Anfield because you step off a bus and touch the sign, great things happen here because players and supporters make them happen” – though it seemed to be a given that England’s last representatives in Europe would not slide out of contention as meekly as Manchester City did in Madrid, and Villarreal probably knew that as well as everyone else.
Klopp also noted that Villarreal’s current status in La Liga should not be underestimated. They have just confirmed Champions League qualification for next season, they have only Barcelona, Atlético and Real Madrid ahead of them – not a bad place to be – and they have recorded victories this season over both the 2016 Champions League finalists.
In the light of that, Klopp’s decision to bring Emre Can straight back into action was a bold one, possibly based on the German midfielder’s immense performance in the last round against Dortmund.
Shoulder charge
During that match, just before Can succumbed to the ankle injury that kept him out of four subsequent league games, he trotted across to the bench to reassure his manager – wrongly as it turned out – that he would be fine to play on. That showed his commitment and determination.
Klopp responded with a playful shoulder charge. That showed he appreciated his player’s commitment, as well as his contribution. Can was supposed to be out for much longer but if the player believes he is ready to return, Klopp is evidently not one to argue.
The manager’s faith in his player was vindicated after a mere six minutes. Villarreal had already had two decent attempts on goal by that stage, so Can stepped up to impose himself on proceedings, carrying the ball across the halfway line and spreading it first left then right, providing the diagonal pass that allowed Nathaniel Clyne to send in the cross that led to the first goal.
Klopp’s point about the Spanish club’s slightly over-enthusiastic celebration of their advantage from the first leg, when it had arrived only courtesy of a last-minute goal, seemed valid at that point.
It had taken Liverpool almost no time to wipe it off, and the feverish nature of the home side’s early pressing meant Villarreal briefly did look as if they didn’t know what had hit them.
Capable side
By the time the interval arrived with no break to the stalemate two things were clear: Villarreal were a sturdy side, not about to lose their bearings because of a partisan crowd or a physical battle; and unlike the Dortmund goalfest the tie would probably go to the next team to score.
Liverpool were enjoying more of the game but their opponents had chances too, such as when Cédric Bakambu had to be blocked by Lovren at the start of the second half, and Villarreal had the away goals rule in their favour. It is to Liverpool’s credit that they stayed strong enough to break their opponents down before Villarreal went down to 10 men when Víctor Ruiz was shown red on 71 minutes.
Once Sevilla took a decisive lead in the other semi-final, it became clear that only Liverpool were standing in the way of Spanish domination of this year’s European finals.
When Daniel Sturridge scored Liverpool’s second just past the hour, this time with a proper finish from Roberto Firmino’s pass, they appeared to have denied Villarreal the chance to join Real Madrid, Atlético and Sevilla.
Nothing has been won yet, and Liverpool still face the competition specialists in the final in Basle, but that is not bad company to be keeping. Guardian Service
