Adrian Lopez celebrates his late winning goal for Villarreal Getty Photo courtesy
The noise from the terraces of the Madrigal during yesterday’s match was enormous and sudden. Liverpool began the match with a golden chance during the fourth minute and it seemed that Liverpool had executed another streetwise performance on foreign soil under Jürgen Klopp.
Yet in injury time, the Mediterranean air changed completely when Adrian Lopez scored the late winner leaving Klopp and “You will never walk alone” fans hopeless with just two minutes to the end of the match.
Liverpool had been caught out by the simplest of counter attacks. In just a couple of seconds, the probability of their involvement in next month’s the Europa League final reduced considerably.
After the match, Klopp said that “It had been a professional performance.” And indeed he was right about that. He was right to assert that Liverpool had contained the game for long periods too. Despite the way the defeat was confirmed, he remains confident of progression to Basel being secured.
“I saw we are in a good way,” he added. “Things are still possible. One-nil is not the biggest result in the world.
“Not so long ago, we were an English team with a big name and no quality. Now we are (considered) an English team with a big name and better quality.
“They have to come to Anfield. We will be ready. It will be a completely different game.”
Liverpool will be hosting Villareal at Anfield for the second leg of Europa Leagues on Thu 5th May 2016, just four days after visiting Swansea on Sun 1st May 2016 Liberty Stadium. Liverpool will be hoping to overturn Villareal’s win with at least two goal advantage so that their dreams of progressing remain valid.