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Villarreal v Liverpool: Klopp ready to fight

Jurgen Klopp says Liverpool will be ready to put up a fight when they take on Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final tie at El Madrigal on Thursday.

The Premier League side are being plagued by injury problems and will be without a number of first-team regulars in Spain.

However, Klopp remains optimistic about his side's chances and does not think their busy schedule and injury concerns will be a major obstacle.

"Momentum is not about having the best squad ready to play. Momentum is to be ready to fight," Klopp told the Liverpool website.

"Villarreal also have had a lot of games. They play after our game against Real Sociedad and have a little fight for the Champions League.

"We need to be prepared. It isn't about always having the best players but being perfectly prepared for our next game. Then we can progress."

"Villarreal have already been close a few times, but only just missed out, so we are all determined to make it to the final this time," Suarez told EFE.

"Liverpool are a team with a lot of history and that only further motivates us. It is never easy to play in a semi-final and it is great to be there again after last season with Sevilla.

"I expect it to be two very entertaining games. We are two teams that like to attack, so I think it will be an open tie. 

"Liverpool have perhaps not been great in the Premier League, but they are doing very well in Europe."

 

- This will be the first meeting between Villarreal and Liverpool in Europe.
- Villarreal are winless in their last 10 games against English opposition.
- This will be Liverpool's fourth European semi-final against a Spanish side.
- Only Athletic Bilbao striker Aritz Aduriz (10) has scored more Europa League goals than Villarreal's Cedric Bakambu (nine) this term.
- Jurgen Klopp emerged victorious in his only previous semi-final in European competition as a coach, seeing off Real Madrid over two legs in the 2012-13 Champions League.