Liverpool are one leg away from the UEFA Champions League final in Paris after they secured a comfortable 2-0 win over Villarreal.
Liverpool were dominant from the start of the game, but it took a deflection from Villareal’s left back Pervis Estupinan and a brilliant play from Salah to set up Sadio Mane for the second and final goal of the game
The game started on a high pressing note with Jurgen Klopp’s men being all over the yellow submarine boys from Spain, Liverpool’s Luiz Diaz posed threat from the first minute and saw his effort parried away by Villarreal shot stopper, Rulli.
Another highlight of the game was when Thiago Alcantara hit the woodwork late on in the first half from what could have been a wonderful strike, Unai Emery’s men didn’t really offer anything going forward as their two strikers were isolated upfront.
The six times Champions of Europe got the lead they deserved after Jordan Henderson’s cross from the right wing was deflected by Estupinan, leaving Rulli with no chance to save the ball. The second goal came a minute after when Mohammed Salah teered up fellow African star Sadio Mane as the Senegalese tooed the ball into the net.
The goal meant that Sadio Mane now has 14 goals in the Champions League knockout stages equalling Didier Drogba’s record of most goals scored by an African in the Champions League knockout phases. Andy Robertson also had the ball at the back in the 65th minute, but was adjudged to have been offside.
The game ended with the Reds dominating the all round play leaving Villarreal a huge task ahead of the second leg that will take place in seven days at Estadio de la Ceramica in Spain.
