Liverpool scored two in two minutes to keep their hopes of a quadruple alive as they beat Villarreal 2-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final at Anfield.
Jordan Henderson’s deflected cross caught out Villarreal keeper Rulli before Mohamed Salah found Sadio Mane inside the box, who poked the ball past the Villarreal keeper to make it 2-0.
Goals from Fabinho and Andy Robertson were ruled out for offside. Thiago almost gave the hosts the lead three minutes before the interval as his strike from 30 yards struck the post and went wide.
The game unfolded in expected fashion, with Liverpool having the majority of the possession in the opposition half as Villarreal sat deep. The match’s first chance broke to Mane, who mistimed his jump and fired a header wide from close range.
Liverpool’s onslaught continued as the half progressed. Shots from Luis Diaz forced Villarreal’s keeper into action twice just before Mane’s shot was deflected wide. Villarreal threw bodies on the line to keep the score intact at the interval.
Liverpool began the second half with a higher intensity which forced an uncertain header from Villarreal defender Pau Torres which ended up in the palms of Rulli.
Minutes later, Trent Alexander Arnold found Diaz with another one of his exquisite long balls, which Diaz failed to make proper contact with to give Liverpool the advantage.
The Reds kept peppering the opposition goal but will be disappointed to take only a 2-0 lead to Villarreal for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League.
