For football lovers still on cloud nine after Manchester City's incredible 4-3 draw against Real Madrid in the other half on Tuesday, this game was a stark reality check.

Tactically, the spider's web put in place by Unaï Emery with his favorite 4-4-2 was certainly interesting to analyze and his team tried, a bit like against Bayern, to restart properly with passing sequences long enough to make time pass.

But that almost never allowed him to cross the halfway line in the first 70 minutes, as the Reds' counter-pressing was ruthless from the first moments of the game.

The offensive aspect being sacrificed for the cause, it remained above all to hold defensively by controlling the red waves breaking on the "Yellow Submarine".

By densifying the axis of the field, Villarreal tried to push Liverpool as quickly as possible outside to corner them along the touchline, counting on their control towers, Pau Torres and Raul Albiol, to s take care of clearing the centers.

Senegalese Liverpool striker Sadio Mané tries his luck against Villareal defenders in their Champions League semi-final first leg on April 27, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP

Attacking against his Kop in the first 45 minutes, Liverpool tried a lot with 12 shots, a record for a first half of the C1 semi-final, without finding the back of the net.

Liverpool sure of their strength

Sadio Mané, with a header (12th) and a deflected shot at the entrance to the area (33rd) off target, Luis Diaz with two long shots that Rulli had blocked in two stages (14th) then boxed (31st), and Mohamed Salah with two overtakes too removed (27th, 35th) had shown that the goal was within reach.

Liverpool's Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah attempts a curling shot against the Villareal defense in their Champions League semi-final first leg on April 27, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP

It was very close to being that of Thiago Alcantara, once again sparkling in the middle, and who found the outside of the skylight from 25 meters (42nd).

But, as it seemed written that this match would definitely not be dedicated to the "beautiful", it was on a cross from Jordan Henderson deflected by the left side Pervis Estupinan, lobbing Rulli, that the deliverance came (1-0, 53rd).

The joy of the Liverpool players, after the opening of the score against his camp of the Ecuadorian defender of Villareal, Pervis Estupinan, during their semi-final first leg of the Champions League, on April 27, 2022 at the Anfield Road Stadium LLUIS GENE AFP

Two minutes later, Liverpool had the good taste to add a better-constructed goal, with a very fine millimeter opening from Salah extended from the point into the goal by Mané (2-0, 55th).

Senegalese Liverpool striker Sadio Mané scores the second goal against Villareal in their Champions League semi-final first leg on April 27, 2022 at Anfield Road Stadium Oli SCARFF AFP

This obviously forced the club from the Valencia region to try more, but the difference in level between a title candidate in England and the 7th in La Liga, who entered C1 by winning the Europa League last year, then jumped out.

Jürgen Klopp even took advantage of the end of the match to rest Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diaz, Mané – who was not very happy with it – and Henderson a little before the trip to Newcastle on Saturday.

A third goal would have made it possible to envisage the return, in six days, with even more serenity, but it is difficult to see how, even with the contribution of its public to the Estadio de la Ceramica, Villarreal will be able to go about overthrow a Liverpool sure of its strength.

© 2022 AFP