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.

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 …

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