Liverpool vs Villarreal: Home is where the hope is for Liverpool in the Europa League

We take a look ahead to the Europa League semi-final second leg from a betting perspective

A view of Anfield (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool must plug gaps at the back to have any chance of reaching the Europa League final.

Jurgen Klopp’s side, who are looking to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Villarreal, have kept just one clean sheet in their previous 11 games.

Their Spanish opponents, meanwhile, are unbeaten in five away games in the Europa League and have lost just four of their last 24 matches in all competitions.

It is not all doom and gloom for Reds fans. Liverpool are unbeaten in 10 games at Anfield, winning six, and history is on their side, with four of the last five teams to lose 1-0 in the first leg of a Europa League (or UEFA Cup) semi-final recovering to reach the final.

BetVictor make Liverpool 8-11 favourites to win in 90 minutes but Villarreal are expected to reach the final – they trade at 4-7, with Klopp’s men 5-4.

More than two goals in the game is 23-20 with Bet Victor, while a home win with both teams scoring is 16-5. In-form England striker Daniel Sturridge, who has scored four goals in his previous six games, is quoted at 22-5 to score the opening goal.

For the latest odds go to BetVictor