Just as it did in the first leg a week ago, Liverpool has changed the fabric of this tie in little more than a blink of an eye. Fabinho’s goal, at the end of a long, flowing move, capped a much improved start to the second half and restored Liverpool’s aggregate lead. Luis Díaz’s header, five minutes later, means Villarreal need to score twice again.
Diaz was a fitting scorer: His introduction at halftime, for the ineffectual Diogo Jota, has revived Liverpool. His directness and his energy have helped to force Villarreal back. His tendency to stay wide has helped Klopp’s team stretch the game.