Published by
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
By Jonathan Wilson The Reds are a step away from returning to the European title match after surviving the Villarreal experience with a relentlessness that was ultimately rewarded. After all the goals and drama of Manchester City’s 4-3 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the first Champions League semifinal on Tuesday, Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Villarreal a day later perhaps felt a little anti-climactic. But a little calm is no bad thing and if this is, as it should be, a precursor to a Champions League final, few of a red persuasion will be too concerned. This was a thoroughly compreh…