Konate, Diaz handed Liverpool starts against Villarreal

Liverpool, April 27, 2022 (AFP) - Jurgen Klopp made just two changes to the Liverpool side to face Villarreal in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday with Ibrahima Konate and Luis Diaz restored to the line-up.

The Reds are just nine games away from a potential quadruple of Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Joel Matip and Diogo Jota drop out from the side that beat Everton 2-0 on Sunday.

Villarreal are forced into one change from their shock quarter-final victory over Bayern Munich with Spanish international striker Gerard Moreno ruled out through injury.

Samuel Chukwueze, who scored the crucial goal against Bayern at the Allianz Arena to seal a 2-1 aggregate triumph, comes into the side with Giovani Lo Celso expected to operate as a false nine.

Liverpool (4-3-3)

Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson (capt); Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Luis Diaz

Coach: Jurgen Klopp (GER)

Villarreal (4-3-3)

Geronimo Rulli; Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol (capt), Pau Torres, Pervis Estupinan; Francis Coquelin, Dani Parejo, Etienne Capoue; Samuel Chukwueze, Giovani Lo Celso, Arnaut Danjuma

Coach: Unai Emery (ESP)

Referee: Szymon Marciniak (POL)

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ALLIANZ