Liverpool vs Villarreal. UEFA Europa League Semi-Final.
AnfieldAttendance43,074.
3-1
Thursday 5 May 2016 19:45, UK
Liverpool will be looking to reach their first European final in nine years when Villarreal travel to Anfield for Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg.
The three-time winners' last appearance in a continental final came in 2007, when they lost 2-1 to AC Milan in the Champions League final in Athens.
The Reds will have to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit to book their tickets to Basel later this month after Adrian Lopez's stoppage-time strike at El Madrigal handed Villarreal the advantage.
Villarreal, who are yet to appear in a European final, head to Merseyside looking to do what they couldn't do against Arsenal in the Champions League semi-finals in 2006 and progress past the last-four.
The Yellow Submarine are the highest scoring side left in the competition with 23 goals, eight more than Liverpool.
The Reds had a poor warm-up for Thursday's game as a much-changed side was comprehensively beaten 3-1 at Swansea on Sunday, but they will be brimming with confidence having knocked out tournament-favourites Borussia Dortmund dramatically in the quarters.
Team news
Liverpool forward Divock Origi is at the start of a lengthy spell on the sidelines with an ankle injury, but the good news is Emre Can will return to the squad after recovering from his own ankle problem.
Long-term absentees Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson and Danny Ings are all out with knee injuries, as too is Jordan Rossiter (hamstring).
Mamadou Sakho is not available after his ban for failing an anti-doping test was extended worldwide by FIFA.
Marcelino has a fully fit squad to pick from after defender Eric Bailly and on-loan Atletico Madrid striker Leo Baptistao overcame groin injuries.
Opta stats
59% of teams to win 1-0 at home in the first leg of Europa League knockout ties have gone on to progress to the next round (since 2009/10, 16 of 27).
The Reds have progressed from three of their previous five semi-finals in European competition after losing the first leg away from home.
Liverpool have won three of their last four home European matches during the knockout stages versus sides from Spain; conceding only twice in that time (L1).
Liverpool have lost four of their last five games against Spanish clubs while Villarreal have failed to win any of their last five visits to England in European competitions; scoring just one goal in that run (D2 L3).
The Yellow Submarine have failed to score in only one of their last 32 Europa League matches (including qualifiers).
Villarreal have gone 12 European games unbeaten (nine wins, three draws); that's a new club record.
Only Aduriz (10, Athletic Bilbao) has scored more Europa League goals than Villarreal's Cedric Bakambu this season (9).
Charlie's prediction
Liverpool have lost their way over the last few games and I thought it was another missed opportunity with Jurgen Klopp not playing a striker in Villarreal.
The situation with Daniel Sturridge is an odd one, not picking him in the big game then throwing him in with the kids on Sunday. It's like he's purposely trying to annoy him.
Villarreal are clever and tricky and they'll be looking to pick Liverpool off on the counter-attack with Cedric Bakambu's pace, especially with Kolo Toure in there in Mamadou Sakho's absence.
I think if Klopp plays Sturridge then they'll go through, but he might try to be a bit too clever again and leave him to come off the bench.
Charlie predicts: 2-1 and Philippe Coutinho to score first - Villarreal to reach Europa League final (28/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Liverpool are Sky Bet's 11/8 outsiders to reach the Europa League final but 3/4 to win on the night, with Villarreal 4/1 for another victory and 5/2 to qualify with a draw.
A 1-0 home win and resulting extra-time is considered the most likely scoreline at 9/2, with either side to progress in extra-time a 12/1 chance while a penalty shoot-out is 10/1.
Sturridge heads the first goalscorer betting at 100/30 while Bakambu is considered the visitors' main threat at 15/2. Anfield legend Phil Thompson is backing his former side to progress with a 2-0 win and Coutinho to score first at 22/1 in his Sky Bet tip.
