There were no fist pumps from Jurgen Klopp at the end. Not the trademark three, let alone the four that greeted the demolition of Manchester United; one for each goal perhaps. This time, the reaction was subdued. It reflected a job half-done, an attitude from Klopp that Villarreal should not be underestimated. “Half-time, no more, no less,” said the often exuberant German. But, compared to Liverpool’s previous Champions League semi-final Anfield wins of his reign, against Roma and Barcelona, it was a more routine affair. Those scorelines – 5-2 and 4-0 – will echo through the years. A 2-0, attained professionally, with a goal from a deflected cross, will not, even though Klopp tried to brand it “dangerous” amid his attempts to build up the threat of Villarreal. Few were convinced.
Perhaps Liverpool are normalising the process of reaching European Cup finals. And if so, many another will be envious. There are worse habits to have. Certainly the draw, pitting them against Benfica in the last eight and Villarreal in the last four, has had a kindness and maybe that lessened the sense of occasion. When great European nights at Anfield are invoked, even from Klopp’s reign, other opponents – Roma and Barcelona, Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund – will spring to mind before Villarreal. Given the importance of the origin story of Klopp’s Liverpool, maybe 2016’s Europa League semi-final against the Yellow Submarine may linger longer in the memory.
