Welcome to Sportstar’s live blog of the UEFA Champions League 2021-22 semifinal clash between Liverpool vs Villarreal being played at the Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England.

This is Aneesh Dey bringing you the pre-match buildup minute-by-minute updates of this high-voltage clash.

Half-time ! (Liverpool 0-0n Villarreal)

One added minute!

45′ Fabinho finds Salah with a well-measured pass and it seemed like the latter was through on goal but the assistant referee raises his flag for offside.

43′ Alexander-Arnold’s cross finds Robertson on the opposite flank. The Scotsman tries to venture inside the boxz but is stopped in his tracks.

40′ Off the post- Thiago shoots from almost 30 yards out but the ball is agonizingly close from going inside the goal as it hits the post.

39′ Konate’s sends a ball in the Villarreal box but Rulli comes out confidently and punches the ball.

35′ Alexander-Arnold with a first time ball inside the box. The cross finds Salah who attempts a first-time volley but the effort is not on target. A great move by Liverpool.

34′ Block- Another potentially goal-saving block. This time it is Lo Celso who blocks Salah’s shot.

33′ Block- Mane takes a shot on goal on the turn but Albiol got an important block to send it out for a corner.

32′ Booking- Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk gets his first Champions League yellow card of the season for challenge on Chukweze.

32′ Rulli saves Diaz’s right-footed curler. The shot was similar to that in the 13th minute.

31′ Treatment done and Torres is okay to continue.

30′ It was Torres who had jumped and headed away Alexander-Arnold’s venomous shot. It has taken a toll on him as he is currently on the ground getting medical attention.

29′ Alexander-Arnold takes the freekick but he cannot clear the wall as the ball is headed to safety by Villarreal.

28′ Alexander-Arnold is brought down near the Villarreal box and it is a Liverpool freekick. A great chance for the Reds to take the lead.

27′ Mane sets up Salah for the shot and the Egyptian obliges with his trademark left-foot curler. however, he cannot keep his effort on target as the ball sails above the crossbar.

24′ Coquelin with a good block on Alexander-Arnold’s attempted cross from the right.

22′ Liverpool with a period of pressure on Villarreal’s goal. Every Villarreal player back on defensive duty.

18′ Villarreal with a good chance to counter but Chukweze fails to find the final pass as Liverpool gets back possession.

16′ Emery’s men not getting any time on the ball- classic Liverpool pressing.

13′ Diaz’s curling shot bounces awkwardly in front of Rulli and he cannot hold it. Fortunately, the rebound does not cause any danger as the keeper recovers in time and gathers the ball.

12′ Chance- Salah finds Mane with a beautifully flighted pass but he cannot convert from close-range with his head. Best chance of the match so far.

10′ Estupinan tries to get past Alexander-Arnold but the latter gets the better of him. He tries to clear but the ball hits Fabinho and goes out for a Villarreal corner.

8′ A close shave for Villarreal as Konate’s header from the corner fell to Mane but the Senagalese could not control it. Pau Torres clears the ball in time.

7′ Lo Celso blocks Mane’s cross from the left and it is a corner for Liverpool.

5′ Diaz sends a searching ball inside the box from the left flank but the ball does not find a Liverpool player as Villarreal clear the ball to safety.

4′ Klopp’s men enjoying all the possession in the opening stages of the match. The Villarreal players aren’t too keen on pressing.

2′ Liverpool on the offensive right from kick-off as Red shirts crowd Villarreal’s final third.

1′ KICK-OFF!

12-30 am: And we are underway!

12-25 am: Anfield reverberates with the fabled ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ anthem of Liverpool football club. Kick-off moments away.

12-15 am: 15 minutes to kick-off!

Liverpool fans outside the stadium before the match.   –  Action Images via Reuters

12-00 am: What have the managers said?

Jurgen Klopp

Unai Emery

11-45 pm: Form guide for last five matches

11-30 pm: Head-to-head record

Liverpool and Villarreal have come up against each other once before in the Europa League 2015-16 semifinal, where the Reds had come out victorious 3-1 on aggregate. The Spanish side will look to avenge the loss this time around.

Liverpool vs Villarreal, Jurgen Klopp vs Unai Emery – Exciting Champions League clash awaits Anfield

 

11-16 pm- Starting lineups out!

Liverpool XI: Alisson (GK) ,Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson (C), Thiago, Diaz, Salah, Mane.

Manager: Jurgen Klopp.

Villarreal XI: Rulli(GK), Albiol (C), Torres, Parejo, Capoue, Foyth, Chukweze, Estupinan, Danjuma, Lo Celso, Coquelin.

Manager: Unai Emery.

MATCH PREVIEW

Liverpool will continue its pursuit for a quadruple when it takes on Villarreal in the first leg of the second UEFA Champions League on Thursday.

The Reds have already won one silverware this season beating Chelsea on penalties in the League Cup final and will hope to get into its third Champions League final under manager Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the tournament last year by Real Madrid — a team it has a chance of facing if it goes through against the Unai Emery’s Villarreal.

Villarreal, on the other hand, beat Bayern Munich to enter its third Champions Semifinal ever, its first since 2005-06. Emery has already been immortalised at the club as he guided it to its first European trophy, the Europa League in last year.

With the competition finally down to the final four, it will be interseting to see whether Unai Emery can carry the ‘yellow submarine’ to its first ever UCL final or will Klopp avenge his defeat to Emery’s then side Sevilla in the Europa League final in six years ago.

Where can you watch the match?

The Liverpool vs Villarreal match is scheduled for a 12-30 am IST kick-off on April 278 at the Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England. The match will be telecast live on Sony Ten HD 2, Sony Ten 2 and can be watched online on Sony LIV and JioTV.