RELIEF FOR TRENT AFTER COMEBACK

Real Madrid, who play their second leg tonight. Liverpool defender Trent AlexanderArnold praised his team-mates for taking the game ‘by the scruff of the neck’ before securing a 5-2 aggregate triumph. He told BT Sport: ‘We never seem to make these Champions League semi-finals easy for ourselves. Difficult, really difficult. We came here and they (Villarreal) played very well in the first half. We regrouped at half-time and got the game by the scruff of the neck. We did what we needed to do. ‘We expected it but sometimes you can’t control the game how you want to. They scored early doors, which is what they wanted to do. But we got it done. ‘We never played football that first half and didn’t pick up any second balls. They played the game they wanted to and we allowed them to do that. Second half we came out and controlled the ball better. One bad half over two legs, we can concede that to get the job done. ‘It is always nice to get the job done on Tuesday. We can watch the (Real MadridManchester City) game tomorrow knowing we will be there. Either opponent deserves to get to the final.’ Liverpool midfielder Fabinho also praised Unai Emery’s side. He said: ‘They (Villarreal) gave it everything in the first half. We knew the first 15 minutes would be really important. They scored early and it gave them confidence and the fans felt it. It was a hard first half for us, maybe the hardest of the season. But you have to be ready for everything and try to play football. After our first goal we controlled the game. That is it and we are in the final.’ With Liverpool’s hopes of an unprecedented Quadruple still on track, Rio Ferdinand felt it was substitute Diaz who made the difference for Klopp’s side last night. ‘His ability to go one v one, he came on and was mesmeric,’ the former Manchester United defender told BT Sport. ‘His dribbling, how he unnerves defenders, his trickery... he’s a fabulous player and one of — if not the — signing of the season for me. His team-mates love him and the energy he’s giving off.’