Liverpool – Villarreal. Mark O’Haire’s prediction

A late Liverpool defensive lapse handed Villarreal the advantage in this Europa League semi-final but the two teams head to Anfield for the second leg on Thursday night with the tie finely poised.

The Merseyside faithful are confident their side are capable of yet another famous comeback in front of the Kop but it’s a feeling not shared by the bookmakers with the Reds outsiders to overturn their 1-0 deficit.

Jurgen Klopp’s curious decision to leave sulky Daniel Sturridge on the bench cost the Premier League outfit a focal point for their counter-attack in Spain last week but should the German field Sturridge alongside Roberto Firmino and fit again Philippe Coutinho, Liverpool ought to have the firepower to open this tie up.

At El Madrigal, the Reds put in a decent shift off the ball, hassling and harrowing their La Liga hosts with a well-executed pressing system. Produce a similar approach at Anfield and the high-tempo bluster we saw against Dortmund in the quarter-finals could easily be repeated.

The home side have scored in each of their six Europa League ties in front of their home supporters this season and their W11-D8-L3 record at Anfield under Klopp gives the club further hope. And the Reds’ European record as hosts since 2010/11 (W14-D7-L2) adds further fuel to the fire.

If we drill down to the Europa League (and specifically knockout football) since 2009/10, Liverpool have W10-D1-L0 on home soil, recording eight clean sheets. And there’s a very fair suggestion doing the rounds that Klopp’s charges are at their best when taking on elite opposition, such as Villarreal.

No Spanish side has exited European football to a non-La Liga club this season and the Yellow Submarine rested 10 players for Sunday’s 2-0 triumph at Valencia, a deserved result that guarantees Marcelinho’s men a top-four finish and Champions League football in 2016/17 with two weeks to spare.

Villarreal have only W8-D9-L9 in 26 road trips across all competitions this season and their final whistle celebrations at El Madrigal last Thursday did look a touch premature. But an away goal changes the landscape in the Spaniards’ favour and they have found the back of the net in all bar one of their previous 32 Europa League matches.

The Yellow Submarine have W9-D3-L0 in their last 12 continental outings and in Cedric Bakambu, boast the competition’s second-top goalscorer. Having triumphantly defended first leg leads away at Napoli, Bayer Leverkusen and Sparta Prague, the guests are well accustomed to what’s required here.

The Yellows are no pushovers and having grabbed a goal in 11 of their 12 away European trips since the start of last season – not losing one by more than a one-goal margin – you can see why the odds-compilers favour Villarreal’s progress.

Being the keen La Liga follower I am, I wouldn’t want to oppose Marcelinho’s man in the To Qualify market but I do reckon this fixture could go against the goals grain and produce another grandstand finish, ala Dortmund.

Liverpool have scored at least twice in six of their last seven at Anfield and will be forced to go for the jugular at some stage. However, the evidence above suggests Villarreal can play their part by grabbing a goal.