Liverpool vs Villarreal
Champions League
Date: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
Kick-off at 20:00 UK/ 21:00 CET
Venue: Enfield.

When Liverpool welcomes Villarreal to Enfield on Wednesday, they will be hoping to get one step closer to reaching the UEFA Champions League final.

The UEFA Champions League is nearing its conclusion, with only two stages left for the new champion to claim the coveted title.

On Tuesday, Manchester City and Real Madrid will play in the first of two semi-finals, with Liverpool and Villarreal battling it out on Wednesday night.

Liverpool qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League by winning Group B with a perfect record.

The Reds then beat Inter Milan in the Round of 16 before going on to overcome Benfica in the semi-finals.

Jurgen Klopp’s side has been perhaps Europe’s most formidable team in 2022, losing only one of their 26 games, most recently defeating Everton 2-0 in the Merseyside derby.

Villarreal, on the other hand, advanced past the group stage by coming second in Group F before embarking on a giant-killing expedition, defeating Juventus and Bayern Munich to secure a match against Liverpool.

The Yellow Submarine were not as stunning as the hosts, but they are on a five-game winning streak, despite their decreasing chances of securing European qualification depending on their La Liga finish.

In the lone meeting between the two sides, Liverpool advanced to the 2015/16 UEFA Europa League final, defeating Villarreal in a thrilling semi-final duel over two legs.

The Hard Tackle examines the matchup before of the most recent meeting between the two teams.

Liverpool vs Villarreal Head to head :

• The latest encounter had ended in a 3-0 win for Klopp’s men.
• These two had clashed in the semi final of the 2015-16 Europa League, and then the Reds progressed to the final.
• They had scored two or more goals in their past two meetings against other Spanish rivals.
• Meanwhile, Villarreal had lost their past three clashes against other English foes.

Liverpool vs Villarreal Prediction :

Villarreal’s ability to shore up the defense quickly has been a defining feature of their major wins over Juventus and Bayern Munich.

Another bigwig will be frustrated by the Spanish giants, forcing Liverpool to find fresh tactics to create chances in the final third.

Villarreal’s clinical defensive approach will keep the game alive until one of their powerful strikers ultimately breaks the deadlock, giving Liverpool the advantage going into the second half next week.

The Hard Tackle forecasts a tightly contested match on Wednesday, with Liverpool prevailing 1-0.

Liverpool vs Villarreal Team News :

Liverpool’s roster is in fantastic shape ahead of the first leg, with Roberto Fermina the lone question for the Reds after missing the Merseyside derby due to a foot injury.

Klopp, on the other hand, has a plethora of options to choose from and is anticipated to recall Ibrahima Konate immediately after the Frenchman scored in both legs of the quarter-final win against Benfica.

After being named among the substitutes at the weekend, Jordan Henderson and Luis Diaz can expect recalls to the starting XI, while Mohamed Salah only needs four more Champions League goals to break Sergio Aguero and Didier Drogba’s 36-goal record for English clubs in the competition.

Meanwhile, former Liverpool left-back Alberto Moreno will not be reunited with his former team this week as he continues his recovery from a damaged cruciate ligament, while star forward Gerard Moreno will also be absent.

The 30-year-old could return from a hamstring injury in time for the second leg, but he is unlikely to play at Anfield, whilst Francis Coquelin has been exercising with the squad and should be fit to start.

Yeremi Pino has a fresh hamstring injury and will miss the game.

As a result, Emery’s only real problem is in the offensive third, where Chukwueze and Manu Trigueros are fighting for a starting spot alongside Arnaut Danjuma, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool in recent months.

Liverpool possible starting lineup:

Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho, Thiago; Salah, Mane, Diaz

Villarreal possible starting lineup:

Rulli; Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan; Parejo, Coquelin, Capoue; Lo Celso; Chukwueze, Danjuma