Two unexpected Liverpool stars issue big Villarreal rallying cry

Posted by

Two Liverpool stars not always associated with inspirational pre-match quotes have gone all out before Liverpool’s Europa League quarterfinal second-leg with Villarreal tomorrow.

Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet and midfielder Joe Allen have told the Spaniards we’ll be going hell for leather to turn around the 1-0 deficit at Anfield – and that the fans will play a huge part.

“We know when the fans are behind us, it’s so much easier. At home, there’s always something possible, a European night at Anfield,” Mignolet told the official website. 

“We’re obviously confident that it’s still possible but we have to stay calm and as players, focus on our jobs, to play at our best to try and get through.

“That’s what everyone wants in the dressing room — everybody in Liverpool — to go to the final!”

Allen similarly claims we’re confident, and reckons we were unlucky to lose the first-leg anyway.

“Villarreal will have their work cut out,” Allen told UEFA.com.

“There was an extremely fine line between us imposing our game plan in the first leg and getting a 1-0 win ourselves, and the way the match actually turned out.

“On another night we’d have won, which would have been ideal. But I’m confident that we’ve got enough to win this second leg and put them out.

“The tactical element was a big test for everyone in terms of coming up against a team which plays differently to what we are used to. Technically, they move the ball so well. Top Spanish teams tend to be possession based – something we don’t meet week in, week out in England.”

While Mignolet is a certainty to start between the sticks, it’s uncertain whether Klopp will go with Allen in the middle – especially now Emre Can is fit and back in contention for a start.

The Welshman did very well at El Madrigal, linking defence and attack, but the boss may prefer to go with a more ambitious 4-2-3-1 rather than the 4-3-3 from last Thursday – given that we need the win.

If that’s the case, Allen may have an impact as a second-half sub instead, with Klopp regularly bringing him off the bench to help us in possession in recent months.

More Stories Joe Allen Simon Mignolet