FANS KEY TO SECOND GOAL, SAYS ANDY
ANDY ROBERTSON last night hailed the special Anfield atmosphere as the key to Liverpool building a significant first-leg advantage in their Champions League semi-final against Villarreal.
Jurgen Klopp’s men had to be patient as Unai Emery’s well-organised visitors frustrated the hosts in the first half. But they broke the deadlock after 53 minutes courtesy of an own goal before Sadio Mane made the tie a whole lot more comfortable by prodding home a fine second two minutes later.
The teams meet again in next Tuesday’s second leg in Spain but Liverpool will start as hot favourites to book a date with either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the final on May 28.
Speaking to BT Sport, Robertson (right) said: ‘We had a few chances in the first half, trying to break them down.
‘We had a bit of momentum after the first goal and the noise in here was incredible. It took us to the second one.
‘We would have liked one more but a clean sheet and two goals, we can’t argue with that.
‘It is the semi-final of the Champions League. If you can’t run around for 90 minutes in this kind of game, when will you?
‘Our intensity has been high the last couple of games. We have had a hectic schedule but we are enjoying it. There is still work to do but we are happy.’
Manager Jurgen Klopp warned that the tie was far from over, saying: ‘You have to be alert and play the second game like the first. It will be a tricky atmosphere for us. They will fight with all they have. It’s always the same.
‘We will travel to Villarreal and try to qualify for the final but, again, if it isn’t good enough then Villarreal will go to the final.’
Jordan Henderson, whose cross for the opener took a deflection off visiting defender Pervis Estupinan and was ultimately pawed over the line by goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, admitted his team had fortune on their side. ‘They are a very organised team and we knew they would make it difficult,’ said the Liverpool captain. ‘It was just important that we kept going and believed that we would eventually break them down. We did that with two good goals. ‘First one was a bit lucky. Good build-up but a bit lucky, in off the defender and keeper I think. But you need a bit of luck when a team plays with a low block. ‘We got that and it lifted the crowd. For the majority of the game, the counter-press was really good. It made it difficult for them. But the game is still alive and it will be tough in Villarreal.’