Liverpool are on the brink of a 10th appearance at the peak of European football, but only after a 2-0 win that felt very far from the pinnacle of the game. It was certainly so far removed from the thrilling chaos of the previous night at Manchester City.
There were so many passages where this felt much less a Champions League semi-final, and more a routine Premier League win over someone like Watford. That was down to more than the identity of some of Villarreal’s players, such as Etienne Capoue and Pervis Estupinan.
