Liverpool vs Villarreal – UCL 2021/22 Semi Final 1st Leg, match preview, predicted lineups
Liverpool play Villarreal at home in Champions League 2021/22 Semi-Final first leg as the season nears it’s conclusion. Both teams will be looking for a win here.
Kick-off : 8:00 PM (Local)
Venue : Anfield, Liverpool
The Reds are in red hot form at the moment winning games after games and they will need this momentum in a crucial CL tie.
Liverpool were excellent in ousting Benfica in the Quarter-Finals as they reached yet another UCL semi. They will either play Real Madrid or Man City in the final.
Manager Jurgen Klopp loves to use the 4-3-3 formation and the same must benefit them against Villarreal. They need to be solid at the back while score goals up front.
On the other hand, Villarreal are having a nametag of their own at the moment of giant-killer and they will need to do justice to it once again if they are to play the Champions League final.
The Yellow Submarine have ousted so far Giants like Juventus and Bayern Munich in the knockout stages this season.
Manager Unai Emery will either deploy a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-4-2 formation against Liverpool. They will aim for a positive result at Anfield to take home the advantage.
The two teams have only ever met twice before in all competitions level 1-1 on head to head.
Team news and possible lineups
Roberto Firmino is doubtful for The Reds ahead of the crucial Champions League encounter.
While, Villarreal have Gérard Moreno and Yeremi Pino both absent.
Liverpool XI : Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago, Salah, Mane, Diaz.
Villarreal XI : Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan, Parejo, Coquelin, Capoue, Lo Celso, Chukwueze, Danjuma.
Prediction
Well both teams have done really well to reach this phase of the competition and it depends on both of them on how they take this game. With Liverpool having dominated in recent fixtures against big clubs they have an edge and I expect them to win the first leg 2-0.
