Villarreal vs Liverpool LIVE: Champions League result and final score after Luis Diaz turns semi-final around
Villarreal 2-3 Liverpool (Liverpool win 5-2 on aggregate): Follow for live reaction from a thrilling night in the Champions League as the Reds progressed to the final
Follow live reaction as Liverpool progressed to the Champions League final after seeing off a thrilling comeback from Villarreal thanks to second-half goals from Fabinho, Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane.
The noise in El Madrigal before kick-off ensured it would be an intimidating atmosphere for Liverpool, who led 2-0 after last week’s first leg at Anfield, and an early goal from Boulaye Dia inside three minutes gave Villarreal a perfect start.
Liverpool were sloppy in what was their poorest first half of the season and when Francis Coquelin’s header levelled the tie shortly before the break it was no less than Villarreal deserved.
But it was all change after half-time, with Diaz making an impact from the bench. Fabinho fired between goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli’s legs to put the Reds ahead once again, before Diaz scored a header from close range to restore Liverpool’s two-goal lead.
Mane confirmed the win as he went round the goalkeeper to score Liverpool’s third goal in 12 minutes, which keeps Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
Liverpool will play either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the Paris final on May 28. Relive the action from a dramatic Champions League semi-final below.
Emery’s record vs Liverpool
Unai Emery replaced long-serving Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger in May 2018 and oversaw 78 matches for the Gunners until his dismissal in November 2019. His record against Liverpool was one draw and two defeats with both losses coming at Anfield (1-5, 1-3).
Emery did, however, enjoy success against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool as Sevilla coach, beating the Reds 3-1 in the 2016 Europa League final.
Trent Alexander-Arnold undaunted by Liverpool’s quadruple quest
Trent Alexander-Arnold feels an appropriate person to discuss what Jurgen Klopp calls “the second most important game you can play” and not merely because, at the tender age of 23, he is already midway through his third. Liverpool’s history in European Cup or Champions League semi-finals dates back to 1965 and incorporates eight times when they have progressed to what Klopp terms the biggest match of all, but Alexander-Arnold was the architect of their greatest moment on this stage. It was his quickly taken corner, when only two people in Anfield felt alert to the possibility, that led to Divock Origi’s decider against Barcelona three years ago.
His semi-final second legs have been epics in their own way: a 4-2 loss to Roma, which was not enough to overturn the 5-2 advantage Liverpool took from Anfield, and the 4-0 humiliation of Barcelona. Now, with Liverpool 2-0 up on Villarreal, he is hoping for a less memorable affair.
“Looking back on the two previous semis, we made it quite difficult for ourselves, especially in the second legs we had to dig deep and see the game out,” Alexander-Arnold reflected. “We go there to win the game, score goals and put the game to bed. It is easier said than done.”
With Villarreal seventh in La Liga, Liverpool having won each of their European away games this season and Klopp’s side yet to lose by two goals in the campaign, it could feel a formality. Liverpool are trying to guard against such sentiments. But if anyone could be forgiven for feeling this is normal, it is Alexander-Arnold. He faced Roma in the last four at 19, Barcelona at 20. Now, at 23, he could be entitled to think several more semi-finals will follow, that this is just how football works.
Trent Alexander-Arnold undaunted by Liverpool’s quadruple quest
The full-back helped Liverpool achieve the impossible when they came from 3-0 down to defeat Barcelona three years ago and is similarly defiant as the Reds continue their bid for an unprecedented quadruple
Alexander-Arnold warns against complacency
Trent Alexander-Arnold was on pre-game media duties for Liverpool and spoke about how the team plans to avoid getting complacent as they attempt to win the quadruple this season. He says that the team takes things one game at a time and the focus in on tonight’s semi-final second leg.
"We want to go there and win.” he said, “We know we can’t be silly and get drawn into how they want to play but we want to make sure we get through.
"It’s a good lead but at the same time, it’s dangerous. Complacency cannot slip in. It’s been a excellent campaign so far. We’ve seen off a lot of big teams.
"We hope to bed them to bed and make it our third final appearance in five seasons."
Liverpool’s route to the semi-finals
Liverpool won every one of this season’s Champions League group stage matches - a feat never before achieved by an English team.
The Reds made it four away wins from four games with a 2-0 victory at Inter Milan in the last-16 first leg before going through despite a 1-0 loss at Anfield.
They then won 3-1 at Benfica in the quarter-final first leg and progressed to the semis 6-4 on aggregate after a 3-3 home draw.
Villarreal vs Liverpool
This is Liverpool’s 14th season in the Champions League and they have reached the semi-finals six times. The Reds have lost their last four away games at this stage of the Champions League, conceding 11 goals in that run.
But, the comeback victory against Barcelona three seasons ago made it nine aggregate wins in Liverpool’s last 10 European Cup semi-finals.
Jurgen Klopp expects a ‘tough’ night as Liverpool aim to finish the job in Villarreal
Jurgen Klopp has called on Liverpool to be ready to play their “best game ever” and to react quickly if they suffer against Villarreal.
Liverpool are favourites to reach a third Champions League semi-final in five seasons after winning the first leg 2-0 at Anfield. They prevented Villarreal from recording a shot on target last week, but Klopp expects Unai Emery’s Europa League winners to pose more of a threat on home soil.
And he guarded against complacency as he rejected a suggestion that the job is already done. “When I was younger I would be really angry now,” he said. “So no, it is half time.”
Jurgen Klopp expects a ‘tough’ night as Liverpool aim to finish the job in Villarreal
Liverpool will travel to Spain with a two-goal lead in their Champions League semi-final after a dominant performance at Anfield last week
Villarreal’s semi-final history
Villarreal’s only previous European Cup semi-final ended in defeat when they lost 1-0 on aggregate to Arsenal in the 2005/06 season.
They are the 20th team to appear in multiple Champions League semi-finals, and the fifth team from Spain.
Last season, they defeated the Gunners in the Europa League semi-finals which was Villarreal’s first semi-final success in that competition after defeats in 2003/04, 2010/11 and 2015/16.
They then went on to beat Manchester United in the final after a penalty shootout.
‘It’s only half-time’ according to Klopp
In his pre-match press conference Jurgen Klopp was asked whether he thought the job was done after Liverpool’s 2-0 victory at Anfield.
"If I was younger I’d have been really angry with the question!” he replied, "Of course, no. It’s only half-time. We have to go there and try to win, knowing they [Villarreal] will go with all they have.
"You never know if we’ll get another chance in a semi-final. We have an exceptional team but you need luck, so you had better treat it carefully and we will. If Villarreal beats us with a result, congratulations and that’s it."
Villarreal vs Liverpool
Liverpool have won all five of their away games in this season’s Champions League including victories at Inter Milan and Benfica in the knockout rounds.
Both of Villarreal’s previous forays into the competition’s knockout rounds have been ended by English opponents and they have never beaten a Premier League club in 13 previous attempts in the Champions League - losing the last six matches.
Villarreal vs Liverpool team changes
Unai Emery makes two changes to the Villarreal line-up that faced Liverpool in the first leg of this semi-final clash. Gerard Moreno returns up top and he’ll be partnered by Boulaye Dia. Arnaut Danjuma and Samuel Chukwueze drop out.
There are also two changes for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Naby Keita and Diogo Jota both start ahead of Jordan Henderson and Luis Diaz.
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