SAFETY-FIRST LIVERPOOL SUNK BY YELLOW SUB

Jurgen Klopp's in-game management is under the microscope as Villarreal scored a late winner against the Reds, leaving them needing another massive continental night at Anfield.

Liverpool were one minute away from recording a solid European performance on opposition turf. Just one moment of concentration away. Only one better
decision away.

Instead, on 92 minutes, Adrian Lopez tapped in Denis Suarez's cross to score the solitary goal in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final as the Villarreal supporters swirled their yellow-and-blue scarves incessantly. In a game of fine margins, those closing moments at the death undid the toil of Jurgen Klopp’s side at El Madrigal and placed his in-game management under the microscope.

The decisions - in particular keeping Daniel Sturridge on the bench - seemed designed to ensure Liverpool didn’t lose a fixture they looked like they could edge with a little extra firepower. The England international, who has scored four goals in his last five games and has looked exceedingly sharper, would’ve been aggrieved not to have started the match and absolutely livid that he was a spectator for its entirety.

Fellow striker Christian Benteke was only called upon on 90 minutes as the Reds seemed content with a goalless draw. They didn’t get that and a side
that has beaten Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, Napoli and Bayer Leverkusen at El Madrigal as well as held Barcelona, have another big home victory.

The encounter was everything Klopp had expected it to be: exacting, tight and tense, and so it made sense for him to select his battlers from the off to putand an unyielding shift. That he chose not to go for the "work them then hurt them" approach was out of character. Klopp is one for risks, but he stayed safe on Thursday night.

In his pre-match briefing, the German had warned that Villarreal were a patient side who waited to capitalise on the mistakes of their opponents, and they did exactly that.

The Reds were without Emre Can, Jordan Henderson and Divock Origi through injury as well as Mamadou Sakho through suspension and it showed. They also had to replace Philippe Coutinho at the start of the second half due to illness, which further hampered them. For all the discussion around the lack of final-third action, the Merseysiders would point out that Adam Lallana was incorrectly flagged offside when through on goal, Joe Allen should have done better with a glorious chance early on and Roberto Firmino struck the post.

Liverpool’s last European night was intoxicating, but this game was attritional. Nine goals were scored in the two legs against Borussia Dortmund, but a semi-
final against a very disciplined side was always going to be the antithesis of the expansive entertainment provided in the 5-4 aggregate win over Thomas Tuchel’s men.

The build-up against Villarreal was low-key, and with Liverpool playing their fiercest rivals Manchester United and Klopp’s former side - the favourites in the
tournament - in the two previous rounds, it was always going to be somewhat underwhelming. The usual mass gathering of travelling supporters, banners hung up and songs flowing, was not manageable in Villa-real.

The tiny city in the province of Castello is a sleepy town with a small population, set against a largely industrial backdrop. It doesn’t provide the best platform to create an absorbing atmosphere in the hours prior to kick off, but the home fans enjoyed a carnival vibe before the game with the club hiring
a brass band to play live music. There was also a giant inflatable Yellow Submarine being paraded through the streets outside the stadium.

They remained in a festival spirit the final whistle too, Villarreal having ended Liverpool’s 12-game unbeaten run in the tournament and given themselves an advantage heading into the second leg at Anfield.

Next Thursday the Liga outfit will be more dogged, more compact, and more organised as they look to reach their first final.

The game may have been the opposite to Liverpool’s hosting of Dortmund in the last round, but the Reds similarly need another massive night under the
floodlights on their own turf.