EL Semi Final 1st leg, Villarreal v Liverpool, BT and Setanta 20:05pm

paulie21

Jurgen Klopp's side travel to El Madrigal, but the German has not won a UEFA game in Spain before. He will be looking to put that record straight to try and lead Liverpool to the Europa League title in Basel.

The Reds beat Borussia Dortmund in a highly dramatic second leg of the quarter-finals which saw the Merseyside club come from 3-1 down to win 4-3, progressing to the semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.

Meanwhile, Villarreal head coach Marcelino can boast about his side's very strong home record throughout their Europa League campaign. 'The Yellow Submarine' have won every game in Europe at El Madrigal, conceding just one goal.

In La Liga, Villarreal have performed above expectations and are currently fourth in the league standings. However, they have failed to win their previous three league games.

Team news

Christian Benteke has travelled with Liverpool's squad for their Europa League semi-final first-leg tie in Villarreal.

The Belgium international has not featured for the club since the 3-2 defeat at Southampton on March 20 after sustaining a knee injury training with the international side.

Divock Origi is out for up to six weeks with ankle ligament damage whilst Emre Can (ankle), Joe Gomez (knee), Jordan Henderson (knee) and Danny Ings (knee) are all expected to miss out. Mamadou Sakho will also be missing due to a pending doping investigation.

Marcelino in stark contrast can almost call upon a fully fit squad. Only Leo Baptistao is missing as Jaume Costa and Mateo Mussachio passed late fitness tests.

In form strikers Roberto Soldado and Cedric Bakambu are fit and ready to lead the line and skipper Bruno is set to lead his side out at El Madrigal.


Stats

This will be the first meeting between Villarreal and Liverpool in Europe.

This will be Liverpool's first Europa League semi final since 2010 when a Diego Forlan goal in extra time sent Atletico Madrid through to a final against Fulham.

Villarreal have not won any of their previous 10 meetings against English opponents in Europe

Harry Palmr

Get out with a goal or two on the score sheet and/or no more than one behind the home side and I'll be happy enough.

martyos121

I hope we win.

There, I said it.

Umaro

My guess at a starting XI:

Migs
Clyne Lovren Kolo Moreno
Lucas Milner Allen
Lallana Firmino Coutinho


Possibly Sturridge instead of Firmino, but I think Klopp will want both Firmino and Lallana pressing hard from the get go. I don't think Sturridge brings the same level of pressing and tackling that Bobby F does.

Harry Palmr

It'll be about hard work and the press tonight so Sturridge will probably be sprung from the bench with 20 to go.

DrumSteve

I'm going to go with a lo-cal, fat free 1-0 Liverpool win.

Turtyturd

Sakho

Sakho

Sakho.

Dirty Dingus McGee

I'm going for 1-0 to Liverpool









as my prediction for the number of failed drugs tests.

bluefinger

mods can you delete this thread as I'm it? :pac::pac::pac:

Yakult

I think it will be 0-0 draw but I'm hoping for one away goal to put us in the driving seat

cj maxx

Pool win to get the momentum going again. Expect lucas to start thos

livinginkorea

Going to be one tense game I think....that or some brilliant heart pounding end-to-end stuff.

MonkeyTennis

http://www.thisisanf...ess-conference/ Presser

The spanish translator forgot what language he was speaking

marklazarcovic

2-2 draw tonite

ionadnapokot

marklazarcovic wrote: »

2-2 draw tonite

Barcelona were only able to score 2 against this side. The most they conceded at home this season.
Liverpool will find it hard to break this team down.
1v0 Villarreal

8-10

Can't see Joe Allen starting. For me it's:

Mignolet

Clyne - Kolo - Lovren - Moreno

Milner - Lucas - Coutinho

Firmino - Sturridge - Lallana

Fitz*

Joe Allen has to start IMO. he's our best fit natural centre mid at the moment. Milner provides the big moments alright, but Allen is the best actual midfielder and we will for sure need him away from home.

I'm getting such an excitement about tonight, I haven't had this for a while!

ollie1

Dont know how true it is but I heard that Sturridge is not starting and Firmino will start up front.

5starpool

Hope we can get a result tonight, but don't think it'll be high scoring anyhow. Tough tie.

Vicxas

ollie1 wrote: »

Dont know how true it is but I heard that Sturridge is not starting and Firmino will start up front.

High probability,

He'll be an impact sub, seeing as he's our only uninjured striker that can score

RedemptionZ

Need Liverpool to win this for me to get rich

Harry Palmr

Liverpool Starting XI vs Villarreal:

Mignolet;
Clyne, Lovren, Touré, Moreno;
Milner, Lucas, Allen;
Lallana, Firmino, Coutinho

Ward, Škrtel, Smith, Chirivella, Ibe, Benteke, Sturridge

Should have taken Ojo for one of the bolded.

Villarreal

Asenjo; Gaspar, Bailly, Ruiz, Costa; dos Santos, Bruno, Pina, Suárez; Soldado, Bakambu

Subs:Aréola, Musacchio, Samu, Trigueros, Castillejo, Lopez, Rukavina

Tusky

Can't imagine Sturridge is going to be happy with being on the bench so often. I imagine he will kick up a fuss eventually.

Charlie19

1-1 sturridge off the bench to grab an equalizer.

Charlie19

Ojo is hardly registered to play in Europe.

Harry Palmr

Charlie19 wrote: »

Ojo is hardly registered to play in Europe.

Doesn't need to be - he's 18

GreNoLi

Haven't seen villa play this season, anyone in particular to keep an eye on?

Turtyturd

Good stuff, not a night to be carrying Mr......Sturridge.

Hopefully he'll come on towards the end and grab a goal to keep his stats up there.

Fromvert

I'd rather Sturridge started, need a player who'll occupy their defenders, be a threat in behind, quick out ball option and of course he's a goalscorer. Really think you can only play the 'false 9' when you're going to dominate the ball and I don't think that midfield can.

LuckyLloyd

This might go really badly. Just saying.

Harry Palmr

Listening to Phil Neville on 5live, he had a few insights, Bruno is a danger man. They'll be very regimented in their set up - shape is everything for Villarreal. Sounds like a Pulis side with more sun.

ShamoBuc

Brother just rang, he's at it, been raining on and off , bit of a shít stadium, great atmosphere around town from the pool fans, as you would expect.

ERG89

Got away with the team selection against Dortmund.....I expected Milner out wide but didn't expect Bobby up top

NyOmnishambles

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

This might go really badly. Just saying.

Oh ye of little faith

1-1 at worst

Would be happy taking a draw of any description back to Anfield

I wouldn't be upset with even a 2-1 defeat.

Fromvert

An away goal should always be the aim in away first legs. That makes, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3 etc all decent results. If we can win great but a one goal defeat with an away goal is fine.

tinpib

ShamoBuc wrote: »

Brother just rang, he's at it, been raining on and off , bit of a shít stadium, great atmosphere around town from the pool fans, as you would expect.

Tell him to wrap up well and not get his head wet.

ERG89

Michael Owen said he was playing Firmino for possession, even though his biggest weakness is constantly giving the ball away too easily

monkey9

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

This might go really badly. Just saying.

I don't like when Lloyd says things like this. He's usually all Braveheart before a game.

x43r0

How I picture the other fans on here waiting for Villareal to get the first goal

GreNoLi

Yellow submarine.

Psychedelic

WTF?

mikehunts

GreNoLi wrote: »

Yellow submarine.

Ha lets hope the go down so.

Rayne Wooney

Riquelme still knocking around?

GreNoLi

Psychedelic baby, Alexei Lalas in the commentators box to wax banally.

Vicxas

Proper nervous about this

Charlie19

Vote Kolo.

Kolo for No.1

monkey9

x43r0 wrote: »

How I picture the other fans on here waiting for Villareal to get the first goal

We all sit like that at times in fairness. :pac:

Andersonisgod

x43r0 wrote: »

How I picture the other fans on here waiting for Villareal to get the first goal

Forget that, Villareal are a team that warrant support and admiration no matter who they are playing, shouldn't just be support from those wishing Liverpool ill.

Charlie19

x43r0 wrote: »

How I picture the other fans on here waiting for Villareal to get the first goal]

https://twitter.com/TribeOfMa/status/725709043222847488

Osmosis Jones

I'm sure that was a foul on Coutinho