Liverpool welcome Villarreal to Anfield this evening.
It’s the first leg of the Champions League semi-final and it promises to be an intriguing encounter between two strong sides.
The Reds have eliminated Internazionale and Benfica to make it to the final four while the Yellow Submarine have sank Juventus and Bayern Munich. Liverpool are strong favourites.
Jurgen Klopp will set his team up in a 4-3-3.
That’s according to Marca, who believe Liverpool will start Alisson Becker in goal behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Joel Matip and Andy Robertson.
Fabinho will anchor the midfield with Thiago Alcantara and Jordan Henderson serving as the two interiors. Sadio Mane will lead the line flanked by Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota.
Unai Emery, on the other hand, will set his team up in a 4-4-1-1.
Villarreal will start Geronimo Rulli in goal behind a back four of Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol, Pau Torres and Pervis Estupinan.
Etienne Capoue and Dani Parejo will sit in a double pivot with Francis Coquelin and Alfonso Pedraza either side of them. Giovani lo Celso will start in behind Arnaut Danjuma.
Speaking to Marca pre-match, Capoue admitted that he and his teammates are aware they’re in uncharted waters.
“This is the semi-final, we’re just one step away from the final of the Champions League. I think that, mentally, in terms of the level of emotion, it’s a difficult step. The team that’s the toughest in mind and controls their emotions is going to go through.
“They’re heavy at Anfield. You have nightmares because they’re strong at home. And with those fans, playing in their stadium is difficult. Many of us in the team have already played there many times and we know that stadium. We know that they’re strong and that playing there is crazy.”
