Villarreal vs Liverpool Preview, Team News, Line-Ups, Betting Tips & Prediction

Liverpool will be looking to bring home a positive result from their Europa League semi final first leg against Villarreal tonight. 

The Reds booked their place in the last four in sensational fashion after coming through a thriller with Borussia Dortmund that saw the Merseysiders score a stoppage time winner having come from 3-1 down to secure a 5-4 aggregate victory.

Jurgen Klopp’s men warmed up for this game with a disappointing 2-2 draw at home to Newcastle that saw them let-slip a two goal lead but I think it’s fair to say some of the players had their minds on tonight’s trip to Spain.

However, while Liverpool are many bookmakers favourites to lift the Europa League this season, they’d do well not to underestimate Villarreal as they currently sit fourth in the La Liga table while they’ve also won every European game at home so far this campaign.

BACK LIVERPOOL TO WIN AT CRAZY ODDS OF 10/1 + MONEY BACK IF YOU LOSE

Team news

Christian Benteke has travelled with Liverpool after recovering from a knee injury which has kept him out for over a month but Daniel Sturridge is expected to start up front in the absence of Divock Origi, who’s been ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.

Emre Can continues to miss out with his own ankle problem while Jordan Henderson is unlikely to play again this season due to a knee ligament injury, so Joe Allen will be hoping to start ahead of Lucas Leiva in the middle of the park.

Can and Henderson join Joe Gomez and Danny Ings on the sidelines while Mamadou Sakho has been banned for 30 days by UEFA while investigations continue in to his failed drug test.

Villarreal head coach Marcelino has no fresh injury worries to contend with so Leo Baptisao is the hosts only absentee after Jaume Costa and Mateo Mussachio passed late fitness tests.

Likely Line-Ups

Villarreal: Areola; Rukavina, Gaspar, Ruiz, Bailly; Bruno, Samu Castillejo, Denis Suarez, Trigueros; Soldado, Bakumbu.

Predicted Score

Villarreal 1-1 Liverpool: The Spaniards have an excellent record at the El Madrigal so Liverpool should know they’re in for a tough night. However, Klopp’s side showed they can produce big performances in the previous round so I fancy them to get a positive result tonight. Five of Liverpool’s last six away ties in Europe have ended in draws, so I fancy that trend to continue with a 1-1 stalemate this evening.

Betting Tips

Villarreal are the narrow 8/5 favourites to win the game tonight but if you fancy Liverpool then Football-Talk can get you enhanced off of 10/1 on an away win – just click here to take advantage of these incredible odds. I think it will end 1-1 and my prediction is available at odds of 11/2 while I also like the look of Coutinho to open the scoring at 17/2. If you combined those two bets in a score-cast then we get very tempting odds of 45/1.

BACK LIVERPOOL TO WIN AT CRAZY ODDS OF 10/1 + MONEY BACK IF YOU LOSE

What do you think? What line-up would you like to see start?