Despite a scare in Spain, Liverpool are into the final of the Champions League – their third in five seasons. Carrying a 2-0 first leg lead into Tuesday’s encounter with Villarreal, most expected the Reds to comfortably qualify for the final, with the Spaniards showing very little in the first game at Anfield.
As difficult a game as expected, Liverpool found a way to get by Newcastle United on Saturday and keep their Premier League title aspirations on course. Manchester City would win against Leeds United later in the day to resume their one-point advantage, but Jurgen Klopp’s men are firmly on their tail as the battle for supremacy looks set to go down to the wire.
It was like Groundhog Day at Anfield on Wednesday evening. Barely hours after Everton had come and parked their metaphorical bus at the home of Liverpool FC, Villarreal came and did something very similar in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final between the pair. And, like the Toffees, they left empty handed.
It’s rather telling about the gulf between Merseyside neighbours Liverpool and Everton that Frank Lampard was ‘proud’ of his team despite them suffering one of the most comprehensive 0-2 defeats you are ever likely to see. Liverpool enjoyed 83% possession of the ball in Sunday’s clash, but they found it tough going against a Toffees side that stuck manfully to their task.
It was just 72 hours beforehand that Manchester City could not cope with Liverpool’s high octane pressing, and on Tuesday their Mancunian rivals United were the latest side to be put to the sword by Jurgen Klopp’s hungry players.
The speed with which the Reds transitioned from defence into attack was frightening at Anfield, and United’s already ropey defence – Ralf Rangnick played five at the back to try and cover for his outfit’s woes – simply could not cope with the pace of Mo Salah and co.
While it wasn’t exactly as enthralling as their Premier League clash just days before, Liverpool won’t mind the anti-climactic nature of their 3-2 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday. The Reds had romped into a 3-0 lead by the half-time interval, and while City rallied in the second period to pull two goals back it never felt like this was a game that Liverpool would lose.
Liverpool’s quest for a historic quadruple remains on after they edged past Benfica in their Champions League quarter-final encounter.
There was a sharp intake of breath from many – this writer included – when the Reds teamsheet was announced on Wednesday, with Jurgen Klopp making seven changes to what is his preferred starting eleven.
If an alien descends from above and asks you why you love football so much, be sure to show them the tape of Liverpool’s breathless 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Sunday.
It’s (almost) mission accomplished for Liverpool in the Champions League quarter final following a 3-1 victory at Benfica. While away goals are no longer a factor, the Reds will still bring a comfy two-goal cushion back to Anfield and know that they only realistically need to net once on home soil to book their spot in the last four.
Liverpool returned from the international break with a comfortable enough 2-0 win over Watford to keep the pressure on Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League. It was a tenth straight victory for the Reds in domestic action, and while this wasn’t the most entertaining spectacle that Anfield will ever witness, the three points are all that count at this stage.