Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are taking nothing for granted ahead of Champions League semi-final at Villarreal | Football News

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool are taking nothing for granted ahead of Tuesday’s decisive Champions League semi-final second leg at Villarreal.

The final obstacle in Liverpool’s quest to reach a third Champions League final in five seasons sees them head to Spain with a 2-0 advantage after last week’s comprehensive first-leg victory at Anfield.

Villarreal boss Unai Emery has warned his players will make Liverpool suffer at the Estadio de la Ceramica after failing to lay on glove on the six-time European champions in the first leg.

Despite holding a healthy advantage, Klopp is under no illusions there is still a job to be done and is relishing the challenge that only a Champions League semi-final can produce.

“We know it is half-time,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference. “In the best possible way we have to ignore the result from the first leg. If it were a cup game where only one game decided, and we had to go to Villarreal, we would try to win there.

“We know they will give all they have, that is absolutely clear. With all the things Unai said after the game and the fact they made eight changes in La Liga; it’s going to be a tough one but that is completely fine.

“Champions League semi-finals should be tough; we never expect them to be easy and this will not be easy. But we played a good game at home and we better play a good game there as well.”

Klopp continued: “At this moment, a Champions League semi-final is the most important game you can play. Whatever happened in the last few weeks or will happen in the next few weeks is not important, for this moment is clear.

“You never know if you will reach a semi-final again or if we will ever have the chance again to go to the final, you never know. We have an exceptional team here and nothing is for granted. You need luck in moments and all these sort of things, so you better treat it carefully and be ready, and we will be ready.

“We really want it, we want to be where we are, and we want to go to the final. If Villarreal is better than us and beat us with a result which qualifies them for the final then congratulations, that’s it.

“But between now and then there are 95, or however many minutes there are, to play, and I’m looking forward to it.”

More to follow.

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