Jurgen Klopp has warned Liverpool that Villarreal star Gerard Moreno could dent their Champions League hopes in next week's second-leg clash - despite their comfortable aggregate lead.
The Reds will head to Spain next week with a healthy two-goal advantage in their semi-final tie after earning a comprehensive victory over Unai Emery's side at Anfield on Wednesday night. The deadlock was finally broken shortly after the break as Jordan Henderson's teasing cross was diverted into his own net by Pervis Estupinan, before Sadio Mane ghosted in to double Liverpool's lead just two minutes later.
Liverpool could - and arguably should - have netted more goals during the one-sided affair on Merseyside, with Villarreal restricted to just one shot all evening. But even after such a dominant display, Klopp is adamant that the semi-final tie is not over - and he pinpointed the returning Moreno as somebody who could dent the Reds' quadruple hopes.
Speaking after the match, Klopp told BT Sport: "It is not over, there is another leg and Moreno will be back for them in the next round I think."
Although considered a late bloomer, Moreno has flourished under Emery, bagging 13 goals in 26 games for Villarreal this term. The 30-year-old was ruled out of the first-leg clash at Anfield with a hamstring issue. But there's every chance that the Spanish outfit's potent striker - who has been dubbed by some as their secret weapon - will be fit for the crunch return fixture next week.
Liverpool will make the trip to El Madrigal next Tuesday in the driving seat to reach another European final, but Klopp insisted that 2-0 is a "dangerous scoreline". He added: “It’s 2-0, half-time, no more, no less. It is a dangerous scoreline. How much work is left to do? The full work. Nothing has happened yet.
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"It’s 2-0 at half-time and we have to be completely on alert and 100% in the right mood. We have to play the second half like the first half, as though there is nothing to defend.
“We know we go there and it will be a tricky atmosphere for us. It will be different to tonight. These players, this coach, they will fight for it with all they have. And what I like is that we also fight with it with all we have.
“If they beat us with a result that takes them to the final, then they deserve it. If not, then we deserve it. That’s how the competition is. We played a really good game and now in five [six] days we play again and we have to make sure we are ready.”
