Liverpool lost to Villarreal in the worst possible way, by conceding a late goal, after a defensive collapse led to an Adrian winner. The Reds have made incredible comebacks before and they would be hoping for one in the return leg.
Here’s how the footballing world reacted:
Jurgen Klopp
Despite the defeat Klopp was happy with his team’s performance.
“I am pleased with the performance, we did very good today.”
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“Everybody knew nothing about Villarreal will know more. They are a good side, but we are too. We controlled most of the game, which is not too usual here, then a 92nd-minute counter-attack does not sound too good.”
“That should not happen, but we had a great moment with Alberto [Moreno], Christian [Benteke's] header, and the youth came through. Until then it was a really professional performance. It is the first leg -- my first thinking when they were all celebrating the goal around me was sorry but it is not over yet, you have to come to Anfield and we will be ready.”
“We had no luck. I was really disappointed that Lallana was not offside in that moment. In big games you need right decisions. But it is like it is.They are very good on the counter-attack we know that," he said. "We cannot run like rabbits all the times, but today we were patient, we played between the lines. I was pleased with this, I did not want to concede, but we did.”
“Please do not compare everything with Dortmund, but things are possible -- 1-0 is not the biggest result in the world. Before we were an English team, a big name, no quality, now they know we have a little bit of quality.”
Marcelino
Many pundits insisted that Villarreal didn’t deserve the win but the manager was adamant that his team played well. “It is a very good result. We will see if it is good enough. We are very proud of how the team played, the work they put in. The result is not unfair -- we have not beaten Liverpool by chance.”
“We played against a team with an extraordinary trophy record. From the draw, we all thought -- players, fans, everyone at Villarreal -- about this game. We had the chance to make history. Fortunately we have had one of those nights that all professionals want to experience -- with the atmosphere, the spectacle, against this rival, with this result”
“To think three years ago, we could experience this night, nobody would have thought it.”
Jamie Carragher was very upset with the way the Reds conceded.
Steve McManaman played down the ability of the Villarreal side. Speaking to BT sport he said, “I don't think they're very good.I think if Liverpool showed any positivity and the game flows like it did today, and with the magnificent crowd at Anfield, Liverpool should run all over them.”
Michael Owen was positive about the second leg.
Here’s what a few pundits said on twitter after the game:
