Liverpool took a big step towards another Champions League final with a big win over Villarreal at Anfield.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds chased the Reds and had to show patience to break the Villarreal team set up by European champions Unai Emery.
Liverpool has been held back despite creating every opportunity and need a touch of luck to break the deadline 53 minutes after Jordan Henderson's ball was deflected by Villarreal goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli by Pervis Estupinan.
Sadio Mane stepped up Liverpool's control when he touched Mohamed Salah's pass over Rulli two minutes later.
The second leg at Villarreal is set to arrive next Tuesday but Liverpool is now set to meet either Manchester City or Real Madrid in the Paris final in May.
Liverpool continues
Liverpool seems to be collecting unstoppable momentum as all the challenges, even on the Villarreal side that the scalps of Juventus and Bayern Munich in the last round, have been overcome.
Villarreal was determined to get rid of the bitterness in the home team from the first half, taking years beyond kicking goals and a fresh start, but unlike the frustration they sometimes experienced against Everton at Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool remained stable, looking safe. with their knowledge that their opportunity will come.
And it looked like they were moving in gear at the start of the second half, a climate change that seemed to be the biggest for Villarreal when Fabinho was denied a goal even before Henderson tried to cross the ropes that hit Estupinan.
Klopp has managed to remove the relentless Henderson and goalkeeper Mane from the competition as Liverpool continues to dominate.
Liverpool has such a threat that it is almost impossible for the club to just sit back and hope to block them, the vast amount of attacking assets now given to Klopp.
It is a collection of such strengths that he was able to keep Diogo Jota on the bench until the introduction of the two-goal pillow, which had a dramatic impact on the January signing of Luis Diaz.
Diaz did an excellent job, with two shots in the first half too strong for Rulli to catch, while his change of pace bothered Villarreal all night.
Klopp and Liverpool will not take it easy but it is their style and confidence, it is difficult to see how even a strong team like Villarreal can get this back.
Liverpool is now turning their attention back to the Premier League looking for Manchester City when they visit Newcastle United on Saturday (12:30 BST). The historic quadruple is still going on and celebrations at the last whistle here suggested that Kop believes that what many observers thought was impossible now is possible.
Emery is still hopeful
Emery's body language and provocative gestures during the lockout, furious when the Villarreal players conceded a meal, suggested that he thought his team was still in the Champions League semi-finals despite a two-goal deficit.
He has every right to hold on to hope with his impressive record in these two-legged formats, winning the Europa League four times with Sevilla and Villarreal and despising his chances of taking the 'Yellow Submarine' to the last four of the Champions League.
It would require something surprising, even for this European expert, for Villarreal to disrupt the Liverpool side.
Villarreal was tied for the last time in defense but was not allowed to launch a devastating attack that caused such damage to Juventus and Bayern Munich.
Emery will never be relegated but Villarreal has not shown enough here to suggest they can stop Liverpool from reaching their third Champions League final under Jurgen Klopp.
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