EL: Villarreal vs Liverpool

 

Tomorrow - or actually today - El Madrigal will be the center of the first of two semifinal matches between Liverpool and Villarreal.
A match which will define the season for both teams.

Villarreal having done very well this season will be facing a Liverpool team who's challenged on the width in the team.
I'm not going to lie here... I haven't been watching many La Liga matches this season. It's find the league rather boring. But I do know that Villarreal is placed in the last champions league giving spot - or at least the spot that gives them the opportunity to qualify. They do have some great players who I do think will be crucial if Villarreal shall proceed into the final.

As you probably know or most definitely will know if you have read the "Who am I" post I'm a Liverpool fan. Therefore I'm obviously hoping for a great starting point in the first match against Villarreal.
We have been on a though ride in this Europa League with matches against Manchester United and the incredible comeback against Dortmund on Anfield.
I think the team have grown a lot in these games and with some more stability and some new players bought and chosen by Klopp we will most definitely be fighting in the top 4 next season!

But for now we have to focus on the Europa League and at first getting in the final by defeating Villarreal.

I think our starting lineup will be with Mignolet as the keeper.
Even though he is a terrible goalkeeper he might be our best at this time. He's a world class shot stopper and he makes some incredible saves but that's just not enough if you can't catch a ball or even make the most easy saves... Non the less he will be in the starting lineup.

As right and left back we will be seeing Clyne and Moreno. Both of them is in good shape and they've been playing really well for a longer period of time.
Moreno have had some problems in the defending play but he has been improving lately.
Clyne's just incredible. The best signing we made for this season besides James Milner.

As center-backs we will probably be seeing Lovren and Kolo.
Lovren as the most secure card. Kolo have been playing a lot more than he should but with lot's on injuries and now Sakho out of the team for an unknown amount of time only waiting for his ban - Kolo might be the answer.
We still have Martin Skrtel but he's shaky. He's not match fit and haven't been playing continuously with the rest of the team in a long time...
My best guess is Lovren and Kolo.

Now it's about to get interesting... Who will be playing on the midfield. Milner is for sure.
He's been great! Will Lucas be the other starter? Take control of the defending part of the mid? I'm not sure. Personally think he will play Joe Allen besides Milner.
Joe shows a lot of power and will! He's a man after Klopps head.

In front of those guys we will see Coutinho, Lallana and Firmino - I hope.
Lallana have had a slow... well let's face it, really slow start at Liverpool but have been working himself through it and he is now a bigger part of the crucial part of the play with assists and goals.
Why Coutinho should play doesn't need any explaining.

Firmino is for me a wildcard. I'm not sure if he's going to play.
If he is then the two midfielders will be Joe and James. If he is not in the starting eleven then we will see Lucas, James and Joe on the midfield.

In front the one and only Daniel Sturridge.
After a long injury he's back and playing continuously. He's scoring goals now and thank god for that!
Divock Origi was about to break through and capture the place in the starting eleven for sure but then got injured. Studge now has got that position and hopefully we will now miss Origi too much.

So my prediction on the starting eleven is:
Mignolet GK
Clyne RB
Moreno LB
Lovren CB
Toure CB
Milner CM
Joe CM
Firmino ATM
Coutinho ATM
Lallana ATM
Sturridge ST

Alternate Lucas instead of Firmino and then placed lower on the field.

So what do I think will be the result?

I'm pretty sure both team's will score. Liverpool's defense is just not good enough. They will not be able to hold Villarreal away from scoring.
On the other hand Liverpool's offense seems to be one of the strongest in the world at the moment. They will score and I think it will be more than one!

My predictions on the match result is:
1-2