Villarreal to keep first ever CL final hopes alive
Having already upset Juventus and Bayern Munich en route to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals, current Europa League holders Villarreal must undertake the small task of besting perhaps the form team of 2022 in the guise of Liverpool at Anfield. Whilst the hosts are favourites to reach another showpiece match, they can't afford to take the Yellow Submarine lightly. Read our preview here:
Mané man
The Reds eventually made their passing dominance pay against local rivals Everton, plunging the Toffees further into the relegation mire in the process. Jürgen Klopp has had the luxury for a little while now of rotating his squad to keep them fresh, and only Roberto Firmino is a doubt for the game. Sadio Mané can perhaps be very fortunate that he wasn't sent off at the weekend, though any suspension would've been domestically based only. The versatile Senegalese international has been played more through the middle of late to brilliant effect, and his movement will keep the opposition firmly on the back foot.
Im-Pervis
Unai Emery continues to upset the odds on the continental stage, having had perhaps an unfair assessment of his credentials whilst at Arsenal. Klopp will be taking the visitors' threats seriously, with only Alberto Moreno definitively ruled out. Left-back Pervis Estupiñán has the test of his professional career up against Mo Salah, but can profit in tandem with Manu Trigueros down the flank where the hosts are defensively suspect. Arnaut Danjuma continues to light up the competition with his displays up top in a lone role, and can't be ignored even though they'll be without the ball for large spells of the encounter.
Betting tip
The pressure is all on Liverpool to live up to the billing and get the 'expected' result, but the same was said about Juventus and Bayern. The Reds will pay more respect to Villarreal than those already vanquished, but will be in for a tougher time than most pundits seem to be suggesting. Casumo have incredible odds of 5.60 for a draw.
