Champions League: Jurgen Klopp asserts Liverpool will not underestimate Villareal

The stage is set for another mesmerising clash as English giants Liverpool host Spanish side Villareal in the opening leg of the 2021-22 UEFA Champions League (UCL) semis at the Anfield in Liverpool on Wednesday. While The Reds have been in a colossal form of late, the Yellow Submarine has been heavily unpredictable, outclassing some top sides en route. Meanwhile, Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has asserted that Villareal will not be underestimated.

Liverpool has had a great UCL season so far, having lost just one of the ten matches in the tournament this season, including a draw. As for Villareal, in the ten, it has drawn three and won five, while it defeated top sides like Manchester United, Juventus and Bayern Munich in the process. The Unai Emery boys are playing the UCL semis for the first time in 16 years.

ALSO READ: From Zidane to Benzema - These legends have used the famous Panenka technique

Klopp framed, "There might have been a slight advantage [for Villarreal] where Juve or Bayern might have underestimated them, but that won't happen with us. They want to be part of the final, but it's of the same importance. It's special. It's crazy - a massive game. So many coaches and players work their socks off their whole lives and don't get close to this. We have to cherish it and enjoy it."

"We have properly analysed Villarreal. I have proper respect for Unai and them. I watched them properly, and wow! Impressive. He [Emery] is a detail-obsessed manager. Different ways to press and react to different results," added Klopp, besides expressing that striker Roberto Firmino was not in line to feature as he recovers from a foot injury.

ALSO READ: Real Madrid boss Ancelotti jokes he doesn't know who Chelsea's Rudiger is

Liverpool has a chance to script the quadrable this term. While Klopp has already led the side to the League Cup success, it is second in the English Premier League (EPL) 2021-22 table, a point behind leader and defending champion Manchester City. Besides, it will also face Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

Meanwhile, drawing inspiration from the 2018-19 UCL semis, when Liverpool defeated Barcelona, Klopp gauged, "We need a similar atmosphere and a big performance. I need to be on top of my game, and so do the boys. That is fine. If a semifinal in this competition were easy, something would be wrong. I can't wait for it, to be honest."