Champions League results

The Reds have lost just one of their last 26 matches in all competitions, against Inter Milan at Anfield in a result that saw them progress in Europe anyway.

“Hopefully that is the case again, which I am sure it will be. But Villarreal are no easy touch, as Juventus and Bayern Munich have already found out in the previous knockout rounds. It will have to be a special match to live up to last night’s seven-goal thriller in the first leg of Manchester City and Real Madrid’s semi-final tie. Liverpool beat Villarreal 3-0 when the Spanish side came to Anfield in the Europa League semi-finals back in 2016. Unai Emery has a sensational Europa League record and he is bringing that to the Champions League now as Villarreal have reached the last four in the competition for the first time in 16 years. Liverpool take the next step on their path to a potential quadruple as they host Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie.

Minute-by-minute report: Will Liverpool maintain their relentless form against the conquerors of Bayern? Find out with Barry Glendenning.

12 min: Mane beats the Villarreal offside trap to run on to a dinked Salah cross from the right. 3 min: A raking Thiago Alcantara pass from deep aimed towards Mo Salah is a little too weighty and bounces wide of the Villarreal goal. 14 min: Luis Diaz tries to curl a shot home from outside the Villarreal penalty area. 36 min: With Villarreal on a rare attack, Dani Parejo tries to pick out Lo Celso with a ball from the touchline. 39 min: Luis Diaz is penalised for a foul on Dani Parejo near the edge of the Villarreal penalty area. And if you like what you hear, we’re touring in the UK and Ireland this summer, so why not come along to see us at a venue near (or very far away) from you. He wasn’t expecting it, isn’t able to control the ball and it clanks off his shin and out of harm’s way. 23 min: Thiago picks out Henderson near the byline and his low cross-shot from a very tight angle goes into the side-netting. Salah gets on the end of his cross but steer it wide. The denizens of the Kop appeal for a penalty but none is forthcoming. It’s a Liverpool corner, which Villarreal clear. Nothing comes of the free-kick but Liverpool continue to apply pressure.

Should Liverpool prevail it will be a third Champions League final in five years which provides yet more compelling evidence of their dominance. And, yes, that ...

If you need a next game to be 1000 percent in, then yeah, bring on Villarreal in the semi-final of the Champions League. Foyth makes 30 yards and breaks into Liverpool's half but his pass looking for Chukwueze is intercepted and Liverpool counter at pace up the left. Villarreal scramble it behind for a corner on the right. Salah feeds the ball back in and Villarreal hack it behind. He's OK and Liverpool resume on the front foot. Villarreal ahve a bank of four and one of five as they try to make the safe harbour of half-time. Villarreal have barely penetrated Liverpool's penalty area but defensively they have been well-marshalled and brave, throwing themselves into block after block. Albiol makes a vital interception to toe it behind and the Villarreal captain then makes a towering defensive header from the corner. Fine tackle by Konate on Pedraza sparks a Liverpool counter when he switches the ball out to the left. Aurier nicks the ball off Origi and Villarreal hold possession, happy to go home with just a two-goal deficit having been smothered in the Liverpool counterpress. Hard to see how Villarreal will create much more at the Madrigal if they can't get out from under Liverpool's counterpress. So much has been made of Villarreal’s defensive capabilities and yet the ‘yellow wall’ was blown away in 133 exhilarating seconds as Liverpool took a grip on this Champions League semi-final.

Just another banger in this year's UEFA Champions League. Were you expecting anything less? Manchester City topped Real Madrid 4-3 in Tuesday's semifinal...

City failing to have anyone in position to track Vinicius on the counter. THE PASS FROM MAHREZ. THE FINISH FROM KDB.
95 seconds in, Manchester City score the fastest goal in a #UCL semi-final. Manchester City topped Real Madrid 4-3 in Tuesday's semifinal between the clubs, an open and exciting affair that somehow left a few goals on the pitch, if you can believe that. The Sky Blues just carved Madrid apart, as they do to most teams that attempt to play an open game against them. Of course, Vini wasn't done there, racing into space before slotting home a lovely finish. Expect even more fireworks when the tie heads back to Madrid.

A dozen great semi-final nights crammed into one astonishing evening of risk, jeopardy and error, with Pep Guardiola occasionally to be seen kneeling on the ...

The movement and energy from City is a joy, that is unless you're a Real player. City no longer feel like the outsiders they once did, though. Real are so rattled - Militao puts Courtois under pressure and the keeper gives away a corner. City were sublime and have had the chances to be four up. Either side of the Real keeper and that was a goal. Because of that you have to stand up and applause the way Real have kept in this match with two pieces of individual brilliance. "The quality of Real Madrid is such they can punish you. The Real players appeal and it's given, once VAR says OK. After Foden’s third for City from Fernandinho’s cross, it was Vinicius’ breakaway that gave Real their second goal. On this occasion, he had the misfortune to be facing a Real Madrid side who refuse to give in. In the end not even four would suffice for City and in Spain it is hard to see them doing anything other than try to repeat their attempt at erasing this opponent from the tie. No other way to describe the early stages of the game when City took the lead through De Bruyne after 93 seconds, the quickest goal ever scored in this stage of the competition, and Jesus added a second on 11 minutes.

The Reds took the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal against Villareal 2-0 behind a Pervis Estupinan own goal and a Sadio Mane tally. The win ...

If Liverpool could pull off the quadruple, it could make a strong case to be considered the best club side in the history of the sport. They already claimed the EFL Cup. And now they navigated a tricky first leg of the UCL semifinals against Villarreal, putting one foot into the final. The Reds are one point behind Manchester City in the Premier League title race. Stay parked and Villarreal will be towed right on out of the competition. Eventually, Villareal was punished for its failure to alleviate that pressure or offer much of a threat on the counter. FT: #LFC 2 Villarreal 0: Liverpool in the box seat ahead of next Tuesday's second leg in Spain. Really impressive, composed, mature European performance.