Liverpool vs. Villarreal: Areas Where the Tie Will Be Won and Lost
Liverpool welcome Villarreal to Anfield on Thursday night for the second leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final clash, in what is expected to be a tense, tactical affair played out by managers Jurgen Klopp and Marcelino Garcia Toral.
Villarreal hold a one-goal lead heading into the second leg after notching a last-gasp strike at Estadio El Madrigal last week, and while the Reds can still hope for an overwhelming attacking display on home soil, this puts Marcelino's side in the driving seat as they push for the Europa League final.
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Sevilla or Shakhtar Donetsk await in May's showcase match, set to take place at FC Basel's St. Jakob-Park in Switzerland, with a place in next season's UEFA Champions League up for grabs for the victor.
This should provide considerable motivation for both Klopp and Marcelino—and in particular the German, whose Liverpool side run the risk of missing out on European competition entirely through their Premier League placing.
It took a late goal to decide the first leg at El Madrigal, and neither side is likely to enjoy dominance on Merseyside. So where could the tie be won and lost?
Here are three key areas that could decide Thursday night's Europa League semi-final, including a demanding role for a returning Liverpool midfielder.
The Middle of the Park
While Liverpool held possession for much of the first leg at Estadio El Madrigal, they were caught on the break in the dying moments, with Adrian Lopez sweeping home after an exceptional counter-attacking move from Villarreal.
Building from the midfield with quick, one-touch passing, the Yellow Submarine made a swift transition into the attacking third, with a raking ball played out to Denis Suarez on the right flank exploiting the space left behind Kolo Toure by a rampaging Alberto Moreno, leaving the Reds frustrated in Spain.
While even Klopp openly lamented Moreno’s lax approach to his defensive duties when speaking to BT Sport (h/t the Liverpool Echo's Chris Beesley)—overlooking the left-back’s demanding, pitch-length sprint minutes before—this was not where Villarreal found their crucial opening.
Instead, it was a lack of commitment in midfield that saw Bruno Soriano free to dictate play, and with Villarreal likely to sit back and counter once again as they head to Anfield with a one-goal advantage, Klopp would be wise to focus on this.
Fortunately, the Reds are buoyed by a shock return for German midfielder Emre Can, with Paul Joyce and Andrew Gwilym of the Daily Express reporting on Monday night that the 22-year-old was in contention to start the second leg after recovering from ankle ligament damage picked up against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals.
Can’s energy and domineering physicality could give Liverpool the edge in what will be a key battle in the middle of the park on Thursday night—if not, Soriano can be expected to thrive once again.
The Edge of Villarreal’s Box
At El Madrigal last week, Klopp saw his Liverpool side push to the flanks whenever possible, with his 4-3-3 formation seeing James Milner drifting into a wide role, joining Nathaniel Clyne to overlap Adam Lallana on the right wing.
This led to a multitude of wayward crosses from the typically precise Milner, with the stand-in captain lofting hopeful balls towards the far post in an attempt to carve an opening in a crowded penalty area—the 30-year-old made eight crosses, with only one reaching its target.
But with Klopp’s 4-3-3 lacking a focal, attacking spearhead, with Roberto Firmino operating selflessly as the Reds’ deep-lying forward, this proved a fruitless task, and with Marcelino’s side well-drilled in their defensive duties, this is likely to continue even if the Liverpool manager switches to a 4-2-3-1 on Thursday night.
In Mario Gaspar and Jaume Costa, Villarreal can call upon a pair of strong, diligent full-backs, and if Liverpool are to permeate Marcelino’s low block, their efforts on the edge of the penalty area will be vital.
With any of Can, Milner and Joe Allen capable of pushing forward in a box-to-box midfield role, and Firmino, Lallana and Philippe Coutinho all adept at navigating tight areas around the 18-yard box, the predatory Daniel Sturridge could hope for ample support as Liverpool look to pick the defensive lock at Anfield.
Simon Mignolet’s Six-Yard Area
While Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet had enjoyed a strong run of form for much of the spring, an error-strewn performance at home to Newcastle United at the end of April provided a worrying reminder of his many flaws.
A strong reflex stopper, Mignolet has long struggled with his command of the six-yard area, often reluctant to step off his line to make decisive interventions, and with Villarreal no doubt keen to secure an all-important away goal, the 28-year-old will be required to produce a performance of all-round quality.
At El Madrigal, Villarreal focused much of their attacking play down the left flank, with Costa and Suarez combining to trouble Clyne at right-back, sending in just three fewer crosses than the wing-happy Reds, with 21 to Liverpool's 24.
With the clinical Cedric Bakambu lurking, and after troubling Mignolet with a far-post header in Villarreal last week—the Congolese striker's effort sailed just wide—Klopp can expect more of the same from Marcelino's side at Anfield.
After a weekend of rest, with Danny Ward assuming goalkeeping duties for Sunday's 3-1 defeat away to Swansea City, Mignolet can head into this crucial second-leg clash refreshed, and Klopp will require a confident, composed display from his No. 1 if Liverpool are to advance to the final on May 18.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
