Reactions from Jurgen Klopp and Henderson after Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Villareal at Anfield

By Xorkpe Sosu 4 Min Read
Liverpool beat Villareal at Anfield by 2 goals to nil

Unai Emery’s side failed to trouble Alisson with just one shot on target at Anfield as they lost 2-0 to Jurgen Klopp’s side in the first leg of the Champions league semi-final.

It took Liverpool until the second half to break an obdurate Villarreal team down with Pervis Estupinan’53’ own goal and Sadio Mane’s’55’ mins strike put Liverpool 2-0 victory at Anfield after a goalless first half.

Liverpool’s breakthrough was just reward for their dominance Within 10 minutes of the restart with 2 goals in the space of 133 seconds.

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The La Liga side was rescued by the offside flag when Andy Robertson side-footed a Trent Alexander-Arnold cross into the net.

Jurgen Klopp explained after the game: “It was a brilliant game. First half I liked a lot. We didn’t score, that is the only problem actually. But we kept them quiet, which is important because of the attacking threat that they are.”

We tried to create, tried to be direct, mix it up, all these kind of things, play through the lines, over the lines. We had a lot of good moments, no goals, true.”

In the second half we finished the situations off in a superb way. Both goals were outstanding. We wanted to score a third but from that moment on it makes sense that we control the game and that is what we did.”

He added: “We know the other game will be a tricky atmosphere for us. They fight, go at it with all they have. Everyone could see we fought with all we have. We played a really good game, now in five days we play again and we have to make sure we are ready.”

Henderson spoke on his part in Liverpool’s opener:“ I thought it went straight in? Yeah, it was a bit lucky. It was good build-up, a little bit lucky off the keeper and I think it went in off the post, but you need a bit of luck when the team is in a low block and we got that with the first and I thought that lifted that crowd.”

You need a bit of luck when a team plays with a low block,”  Henderson added.

We got that and it lifted the crowd. For the majority of the game, the counter-press was really good. It made it difficult for them, but the game is still alive. It will be tough in Villarreal.”

We had a few chances in the first half, trying to break them down. We had a bit of momentum after the first goal and the noise in here was incredible. It took us to the second one. We would have liked one more, but a clean sheet and two goals – we can’t argue with that.”

However, Liverpool will head to Spain next week confident of getting the job done and reaching next month’s final.

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