Pre-Match: Villarreal v Liverpool Thurs 28th April 20:05 KO

I'd go:

Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Lucas, Moreno, Allen, Milner, Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana, Sturridge.

I'd go with this as well down to the fact that if kolo plays he likes to play on the right side of defence and lovren is not as effective on the left side.

They don't score much but they are very good at defense, but have they faced heavy metal full throttle attack? IF we can get an early goal then I think we will win, as long as we don't lose by more than 1 goal on Thursday I fancy us to progress but I actually think we will win or draw the match but we mustn't be complacent, they are a damned good side, but then so were BVB.

I'd go:

Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Lucas, Moreno, Allen, Milner, Coutinho, Firmino, Lallana, Sturridge.

With injuries (and suspension), team is getting to the point where it's picking itself.
Would go with this, though would switch in Toure for Lucas. Though maybe even play both Toure and Lucas (and leave out Lallana or Firmino) cause that's an attacking side for an away trip.
Don't want to harp on, but Origi and Sakho are a big loss. Though would assume at this stage of the season Villareal might be missing some first XI guys too.
One good omen though is I was playing my young lad (7) in FIFA16 and I hardly ever beat him, but we played Liverpool vs Villareal over two legs last night, the 1st leg away in Spain was 1-1, and then I won the home game 2-1. A cracker from Studge to win. You heard it here first

Who then plays the holding role?

I guess it would mean playing Allen and Milner in there as a sitting two with Lallana or Firmino ahead of them.

I've watched the full game between Villareal Vs Napoli. They are a very organised team, fast to close the space down in the opponent's final third. They were doing it in the two halfs of the game. I'd think they will deploy the same tactics against us to stifle our attack. However, they have a slow defence and plenty of gaps to explore. If we could get the ball out of defence into midfield and a lob over their defenders they will be in big trouble. but we need some speedy players to outrun their defence. We haven't got too many around, except Moreno but he's inconsistent.

mings 
clyne
lovren
kolo
moreno

lucas
allen

milner
courtinho
firmino

sturry

i agree that Firmino has been slightly off his game of late, but he offers a better goal threat than Lallana and Lallana has a better impact from the bench that Firmino has

Not sure what to think of Villareal. I'm sure if we play to our maximum we can get a result away from home.
Mulling over whether Migs should be dropped for Ward. Maybe too big a game for him to come in.
Migs or Ward
Clyne
Lovren
Kolo
Moreno

Allen
Lucas

Milner
Coutinho
Lallana

Sturridge

I think we will mostly press them up top. With Origi out this is the best team to achieve that

Mig

Clyne
Lovren
Skrtel
Moreno

Allen
Lucas

Milner
Coutinho
Lallana

Firmino

The big decision for Klopp seems to be who comes in at CB to partner Lovren - Kolo, Lucas, or Skrtel?  If he was fully fit I'd probably opt for Lucas based on his recent performances there, but I think Klopp will stick with Kolo.  I'm actually feeling pretty confident heading into this one!! I'm going to say we win 2-1 on the night

Liverpool should fear Villarreal, warns Fernando Morientes:

“For me, Villarreal is one of the best teams in La Liga at the moment. They have real quality,” Morientes said, via the Mirror. “Everyone said they are the best team for Liverpool to face in the last four, but they are ahead of [holders and fellow semi-finalists] Sevilla in La Liga and a better side.
“They play very good football. They have a very strong mentality and the coach always tries to attack. It’s ­always the same. They are a team to be feared – a very good team who will play in the Champions League next season for sure, and will do well in the competition.”
The Yellow Submarine’s success this season has come off the back of a superb defence as they have kept 16 clean sheets in La Liga and conceded just 31 goals – two more than Barcelona and one fewer than Real Madrid.

"Always tries to attack" ? I thought they are more defensive side.

Liverpool should fear Villarreal, warns Fernando Morientes:

“For me, Villarreal is one of the best teams in La Liga at the moment. They have real quality,” Morientes said, via the Mirror. “Everyone said they are the best team for Liverpool to face in the last four, but they are ahead of [holders and fellow semi-finalists] Sevilla in La Liga and a better side.
“They play very good football. They have a very strong mentality and the coach always tries to attack. It’s ­always the same. They are a team to be feared – a very good team who will play in the Champions League next season for sure, and will do well in the competition.”
The Yellow Submarine’s success this season has come off the back of a superb defence as they have kept 16 clean sheets in La Liga and conceded just 31 goals – two more than Barcelona and one fewer than Real Madrid.

"Always tries to attack" ? I thought they are more defensive side.

Lucky we have Sturridge then who will unlock that defence.

I would like

         Sturridge
  Origi              Coutinho

I guess,

         Sturridge
Firmino            Coutinho

Will be about as good.

The 11 picks itself. Allen should start alongside Lucas in the middle, with Milner-Cou-Adam behind Studge. And I guess Kolo has the Boss' full trust, not sure I can say that for Migs anymore! Firmino would be as useful attacking threat from the bench

Subs- Ward, Skrtel, Smith, Stewart, Ibe, Ojo, Firmino

Benteke in the squad apparently

Benteke in the squad apparently

who told you?

who told you?

The squad that travelled is not a secret mate.

https://twitter.com/jamespearceecho/status/725279104929533952

They'll be training tonight won't they?

Been a very peculiar week with a European semi final overshadowed by the events at Warrington yesterday.

There will be thousands of reds already in Spain who will probably have one eye on the vigil held in Liverpool city centre tomorrow.  Knowing some of the people in our European away support - probably people torn about where they should be.

I hope all this spurs the players on and doesn't distract them. 

My hope is that we will go out and end this tie in the first leg - but, you know, we're Liverpool, so the tie will probably still be up in the air by injury time next Thursday!

https://twitter.com/jamespearceecho/status/725279104929533952

Benteke has a part in the season to play. He can be our league player against Swansea etc.. and Sturridge our cup player. Benteke also is good at seeing games out when we are already winning. Benteke may come on if Sturridge is leggy late on.

The 11 picks itself.

It evidently doesn't if people are posting different teams.

I'd go.......

                       Mignolet
      Clyne. Kolo Lovren Moreno
                         Lucas
            Milner.              Allen
                      Coutinho
              Firmino  Sturridge

Bench ;  Ward, Skrtel, Smith,Lallana, Ojo, Benteke, Ibeeeeeyyy.

I think we'll take something back to Anfield hopefully a win but I'd settle for a 1-1 draw,
Beware the yellow submarine for sure, over two legs we should prove too much but we are missing key players in key positions, they will aim to exploit that so we need to be strong and hold our discipline,
The longer we keep them out the more frustrating they will become and the home crowd quieter, get into the last 30 still goalless we can be more adventurous and grab a winner.


YNWA

I'd go.......

                       Mignolet
      Clyne. Kolo Lovren Moreno
                         Lucas
            Milner.              Allen
                      Coutinho
              Firmino  Sturridge

Bench ;  Ward, Skrtel, Smith,Lallana, Ojo, Benteke, Ibeeeeeyyy.

I think we'll take something back to Anfield hopefully a win but I'd settle for a 1-1 draw,
Beware the yellow submarine for sure, over two legs we should prove too much but we are missing key players in key positions, they will aim to exploit that so we need to be strong and hold our discipline,
The longer we keep them out the more frustrating they will become and the home crowd quieter, get into the last 30 still goalless we can be more adventurous and grab a winner.


YNWA

I'd rather rotate Sturridge and Firmino now Origi is injured. Benteke may be on the bench, but I would rather use Benteke and Ojo in the game against Swansea.