The Reds have lost just one of their last 26 matches in all competitions, against Inter Milan at Anfield in a result that saw them progress in Europe anyway.

Jurgen Klopp ‘s side come into tonight’s clash full of confidence, having got the better of big rivals Manchester United and Everton in their last two matches and are big favorites to get the better of the La Liga side.

But Villarreal are no easy touch, as Juventus and Bayern Munich have already found out in the previous knockout rounds. Unai Emery  has a sensational Europa League record and he is bringing that to the Champions League now as Villarreal have reached the last four in the competition for the first time in 16 years.

It will have to be a special match to live up to last night’s seven-goal thriller in the first leg of Manchester City and Real Madrid’s semi-final tie.

With Malik Ouzia at Anfield and kick-off at 8pm BST, follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below…

Liverpool vs Villarreal latest news

Lo Celso will be looking to continue his good form, while Danjuma and Chukwueze certainly have the ability to cause Liverpool some real problems on the break.

 Eastafricanreport.com

Villarreal team

Starting XI: Rulli, Foyth, Albiol, Torres, Estupinan, Parejo, Capoue, Coquelin, Danjuma, Lo Celso, Chukwueze

Subs: Asenjo, Jorgensen, Gaspar, Alcacer, Iborra, Trigueros, Dia, Pena, Mandi, Gomez, Pedraza, Aurier

Konate, Henderson and Diaz all come in for Liverpool then, as Matip, Keita and Jota drop to the bench.

Diaz could well be crucial for the hosts as they look to break down a solid Villarreal side, while Konate was in fine goalscoring form in the previous round.

Firmino not in the squad as expected.

Liverpool team

Starting XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Mane, Diaz

Henderson: European nights at Anfield are incredible

Liverpool have often taken full advantage of playing at Anfield in the second legacy of European ties to stage incredible comebacks, but tonight they’re at home in the first leg.

Henderson is confident the atmosphere will be just as impressive as it has been in the past on those famous nights.

“Anfield is always special,” Henderson said. “European nights at Anfield are always incredible.

“Hopefully that is the case again, which I am sure it will be. We need to perform to the levels we’re capable of to get the crowd on those levels – it’s a two-way thing.

“The crowd, I am sure, will be there and we need to make sure we’re there as well, which I am sure we will be.”

No shortage of away fans in Liverpool..

Eastafricanreport.com

Liverpool   v   Villarreal  LIVE!

Lo Celso a man transformed

Of all the supposed Premier League rejects, misfits and cast-offs who make up Unai Emery’s Villarreal squad against Liverpool tonight, none feel as important to their hopes of another Champions League upset as Tottenham loanee Giovani Lo Celso.

Lo Celso has added guile and grit to Emery’s midfield and was outstanding as Villarreal eliminated first Juventus then Bayern Munich in the knockouts.

Lo Celso was man of the match in the 1-0 win over Bayern in the quarter-final first leg, and pivotal again in the subsequent 1-1 draw in Germany, playing both games with a fizzing intensity which the Bundesliga giants found difficult to contains.

Klopp: Emery is a world-class coach

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has moved to praise opposite number Unai Emery ahead of his team’s Champions League semi-final meeting with Villarreal.

“Unai is a detail-obsessed manager who prepares for all different situations in the game and that’s what his team is executing,” Klopp said.

“It’s really, really good, different ways to build-up, different ways to press, different ways to react on results.

“He is a world-class coach is doing an incredible job there.

“Our job is to make life difficult as possible for them and that is what we will try and do over the two legs.”

Liverpool   v   Villarreal  LIVE!

© Eastafricanreport.com

Edited by RUTEMBESA Anicet