Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned Villarreal that Anfield awaits after his side's 1-0 defeat in their Europa League semi-final first leg.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp warned Villarreal that Anfield awaits after his side's 1-0 defeat in their Europa League semi-final first leg.
![Jurgen Klopp has backed Liverpool in the second leg at Anfield]()
MARCELINO PLAYS DOWN IMPORTANCE OF ANFIELD
In the first leg substitute Adrian Lopez capitalised on a momentary lapse in concentration in the second minute of added time to give the home side the advantage ahead of the return in a week's time.
On Liverpool's last European appearance at home they staged a dramatic comeback to beat the then-favourites Borussia Dortmund and although the late drama went against them in Spain, Klopp remains confident.
What's more, he warned his opponents that their jubilance at the end of the first leg suggests that Villarreal have no idea what they're in store for on Thursday night.
KLOPP ON WHY VILLARREAL WERE MAD TO BE HAPPY WITH 1-0 AT HOME
"I do not know what they know about Anfield. They scored in the last minute of the game to make it 1-0 and if you don’t celebrate then there’s something wrong. It’s more about what my colleague [Marcelino] said after the game – that 1-0 was the result he dreamed of. The way the game went is not what he expected.
"I don’t think we are through, or halfway or that we are out of the tournament either. It’s not that from now on I always expect wonders from us or from the crowd in difficult, close games. But we have all felt how big the influence is of an outstanding atmosphere. In this week of wonderful weather on Merseyside, maybe the only good weather of the year, everybody could be in the perfect mood. Everything is like it should be...
"Ahead of this game maybe everybody expects us to be on fire from the first second and that we will press them in their own half. A lot of things are possible and I don’t want to talk too much about what we do because hopefully we can surprise them, but it is about playing smart. A big threat is their counterattacking game. It is not their only strength, but it is a big part of their game. With these two strikers they are pretty quick and calm enough to wait for situations, they defend with eight people leaving these two strikers always in dangerous positions so you need a perfect protection for all your attacking moments."
Jurgen Klopp has backed Liverpool in the second leg at Anfield - PA Sport
"In no way whatsoever will we be affected negatively by the atmosphere; if anything we will be affected positively.
"It's going to be different to the first leg. We expect them to push us high up the pitch from the start and to play more directly. They may play a different system with a different player or two but it won't condition what we do. We know where they're dangerous and the important thing is to counter their strengths. "
TEAM NEWS
Emre Can is back in training for Liverpool and is in the matchday squad, but seems more likely to be on the bench than to start. The Reds are also still without Jordan Henderson (knee), Joe Gomez (knee) and Divock Origi, while Danny Ings's return to fitness is not quite complete.
Villarreal have a 100% fit squad.
WHAT TIME DOES LIVERPOOL V VILLARREAL KICK-OFF? AND HOW CAN I WATCH ON TV?
The match kicks off at Anfield at 20:05 BST (21:05 CET) on Thursday 5th May.
Viewers in the UK can watch on BT Sport Europe; overseas viewers can check their options here.
MATCH FACTS- 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.
- The Reds have won their last seven home second leg ties in European semi-finals; conceding just one goal in that time.
- 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 whilst 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).
- This is Liverpool's fourth European semi-final against a Spanish side; they've progressed from two of those but were eliminated last time versus Atletico Madrid in the 2009/10 Europa League semi-finals.
- Villarreal have faced English opposition in a major European semi-final before, they were knocked out of the 2005/06 Champions League by Arsenal at this stage.
- The Yellow Submarine have only failed to score in one of their last 32 Europa League matches (including qualifiers) whilst Liverpool have only scored in one of their most recent five games played in European competition versus Spanish opposition.
- If Villarreal progress from this round, it’ll be the first time they have reached a major European competition final (three Intertoto Cup finals).
- Villarreal have gone 12 European games unbeaten (nine wins, three draws); that's a new club record.
- Klopp was the victorious manager in his only previous major semi-final in European competition as a coach, seeing off Real Madrid over two legs (W1 L1; 4-3 on aggregate) in the 2012/13 Champions League.
- Daniel Sturridge has only scored one goal in 13 previous Europa League appearances.
- Villarreal’s Denis Suárez assisted Adrián’s stoppage time winner during the first leg; he’s recorded more assists than any other player this season in the Europa League (7).
- Only Aduriz (10, Athletic Bilbao) has scored more Europa League goals than Villarreal’s Cédric Bakambu this season (9).
- Roberto Soldado (Villarreal) and Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) have registered 37 shots in the 2015/16 Europa League; a joint-high in the competition.
Source: Eurosport Asia
No comments:
Post a Comment