Villarreal vs Liverpool betting tips: Champions League semi-final second leg preview, predictions and odds

By Ben Gray Published: May 1, 2022 8:01 pm

Villarreal CF

2

-

3

Liverpool FC

Match ended

Show players

Torres, Pau

85'

84'

Fabinho
Milner, James

81'

Keita, Naby
Henderson, Jordan

81'

Robertson, Andy
Tsimikas, Kostas

Dia, Boulaye
Alcacer, Paco

81'

Lo Celso, Giovani

81'

80'

Thiago
Jones, Curtis

Albiol, Raul
Aurier, Serge

79'

Estupinan, Pervis
Trigueros, Manu

79'

77'

Alexander-Arnold, Trent

74'

Mane, Sadio

Moreno, Gerard
Chukwueze, Samuel

70'

Coquelin, Francis
Pedraza, Alfonso

69'

67'

Diaz, Luis

Capoue, Etienne

63'

62'

Fabinho

46'

Jota, Diogo
Diaz, Luis

Coquelin, Francis

41'

Dia, Boulaye

3'

Starting lineup

Rulli, Geronimo13

Foyth, Juan8

Albiol, Raul3

Torres, Pau4

Estupinan, Pervis12

Lo Celso, Giovani17

Capoue, Etienne6

Parejo, Dani5

Coquelin, Francis19

Dia, Boulaye16

Moreno, Gerard7

1Alisson

66Alexander-Arnold, Trent

5Konate, Ibrahima

4Van Dijk, Virgil

26Robertson, Andy

8Keita, Naby

3Fabinho

6Thiago

11Salah, Mohamed

20Jota, Diogo

10Mane, Sadio

Substitutes

Asenjo, Sergio1

Jorgensen, Filip35

Gaspar, Mario2

Aurier, Serge25

Mandi, Aissa22

Trigueros, Manu14

Chukwueze, Samuel11

Iborra, Vicente10

Pedraza, Alfonso24

Gomez, Moi23

Pena, Ruben20

Alcacer, Paco9

62Kelleher, Caoimhin

21Tsimikas, Kostas

32Matip, Joel

12Gomez, Joe

7Milner, James

17Jones, Curtis

15Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex

14Henderson, Jordan

27Origi, Divock

23Diaz, Luis

18Minamino, Takumi

67Elliott, Harvey

Recommended bets

First leg score: Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal

Liverpool have won all five Champions League away games this season. The Reds have progressed through nine of their last ten European Cup semi-final ties. They’ve won 32 of 37 ties when winning the first leg at home, progressing through all eight when claiming a 2-0 first leg victory at Anfield. 

Villarreal have never beaten English opposition in the Champions League in 13 attempts (excluding qualifiers). Only once before have the Yellow Submarine beaten a Premier League side by more than one goal, a 2-0 UEFA Cup victory over Middlesbrough in 2004. Villarreal have actually won three of seven European ties when losing the first leg away. 

New customers bet £10 and get £30 in free bets!

BET NOW

Both teams to score is 4/6.

Liverpool to win and both teams to score is 9/4.

Mohamed Salah has scored 33 goals in 54 Champions League appearances for Liverpool. He is 15/4 to break the deadlock and 1/1 to score anytime.

Liverpool to win 2-1 against Villarreal- 15/2!

BET NOW

Match preview

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 13: Luis Díaz of Liverpool during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg Two match between Liverpool FC and SL Benfica at Anfield on April 13, 2022 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

After last Wednesday night’s first leg at Anfield, Liverpool are firmly in control of this tie.

It actually took until seven minutes into the second half for the Reds to make the breakthrough.

Jordan Henderson’s cross whipped off Pervis Estupiñán and into the far corner, flying over the stranded Gerónimo Rulli.

Then, mere moments later, it was 2-0 with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané combining with the Senegalese cooly slotting home.

Villarreal had just one shot all night and, in truth, Jürgen Klopp’s side could’ve won by more, but 2-0 could still prove to be an unassailable lead.

Will the six-times European champions finishing the job at El Madrigal, thereby reaching their tenth European Cup Final.

As has been well documented, Liverpool could end the season with an unprecedented quadruple, given that the Carabao Cup is already in the bag.

On Saturday, Naby Keïta’s early goal was enough to see the Reds beat Newcastle United 1-0 at St James’ Park.

This means they remain one points behind Manchester City in the Premier League, and with an FA Cup Final against Chelsea to come in 11 days time.

Already in this season’s Champions League, the Reds have beaten A.C. Milan, Porto, Atlético Madrid and then Inter and Benfica in the knockout phase.

Liverpool haven’t lost any game by two or more goals for 13 months, since a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in Valdebebas in last season’s quarter-finals.

If they preserve that record, they’ll be heading to Paris for this season’s final, the city where they beat Real Madrid to win a third European Cup in 1981.

But don’t count out Villarreal just yet as they’ve already upset the odds just to get this far.

El Submarino Amarillo saw off Juventus in the last 16 before ousting Bayern in the quarters, winning 3-0 in Turin before an equally memorable 1-1 draw in Munich.

So, last season’s Europa League winners are competing in their first Champions League semi-final since bowing out to Arsenal at this stage in 2006.

Despite their astonishing run, Unai Emery’s side are in danger of not featuring in any UEFA competition next season.

Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at relegation-threatened Deportivo Alavés means they’re still seventh in La Liga, just one point above in form Athletic Club.

Here, can Villarreal produce an unlikely remontada or will Liverpool be celebrating at Estadio de la Cerámica?

Villarreal team news

BERGAMO, ITALY – DECEMBER 09: Arnaut Danjuma of Villarreal celebrates his second goal with his team-mate Alberto Moreno (R) during the UEFA Champions League group F match between Atalanta and Villarreal CF at Gewiss Stadium on December 09, 2021 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

As was the case around the two legs against Bayern Munich, Unai Emery rotated heavily for the La Liga fixture in-between.

So, this side will look a lot more like the one that started at Anfield last Wednesday.

Centre-back Pau Torres and controlling midfielder Dani Parejo are the only two players highly likely to start all three games in the last week.

Samu Chukwueze could be a third; he was the surprise inclusion in the first leg and could keep his place if Gerard Moreno isn’t fit.

Without Gerard, who’s season has been blighted by injury, Arnaut Danjuma is the main goal threat, having already scored six in the Champions League.

Other former Premier League players Juan Foyth, Étienne Capoue, Francis Coquelin and Giovani Lo Celso will all start.

Pervis Estupiñán will keep his place at left-back because former Liverpool man Alberto Moreno is out with a long-term cruciate ligament injury.

Liverpool team news

STADIO GIUSEPPE MEAZZA, MILANO, ITALY – 2022/02/16: Thiago Alcântara of Liverpool Fc looks on during the Uefa Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Fc Internazionale and Liverpool Fc . Liverpool Fc wins 2-0 over Fc Internazionale. (Photo by Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Jürgen Klopp rotated a bit for Saturday’s game in Newcastle with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah all left on the bench.

All four are likely to return, as is Ibrahima Konaté at centre-back.

The Frenchman has started six of the last seven Champions League games, scoring home and away against Benfica, despite only starting eight of 35 league matches.

With Konaté and Alexander-Arnold returning, Joël Matip and Joe Gomez will drop back out again.

In attack, Salah, first leg scorer Sadio Mané and Luis Díaz appear to be Klopp’s first choice trio.

Thus, Diogo Jota could be back on the bench, alongside Divock Origi, with Roberto Firmino currently out due to a foot injury.

The Reds only previous visit to El Madrigal came for a Europa League semi-final in 2016, losing 1-0 before winning 3-0 back at home.

Firmino and James Milner are the only players in that night’s squad who are still at the club.

La Liga table:

Premier League table:

– 101 Great Goals may earn commission from links on this page. Our content is always original. Note that all of our reviewers are compensated for contributing content to 101 Great Goals. Learn more.