‘Complacency’: Ferdinand makes Liverpool claim, picks four that will prevent it

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Rio Ferdinand has told BT Sport that Liverpool must not allow complacency to creep in during the second leg against Villarreal – having won the first leg 2-0 at Anfield. He says four players will be crucial to preventing it.

An own goal from Pervis Estupinan – from a Jordan Henderson cross – and a Sadio Mane finish saw Liverpool finally break the Villarreal rearguard and win 2-0. But as seen in the Champions League, it is not a defining lead.

Liverpool will travel to Villarreal next week, in the midst of a hostile atmosphere proven by the brilliant away support at Anfield on Wednesday night. The Villarreal fans were still singing long after the full-time whistle.

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Unai Emery’s tactics might not have worked as well as he would have liked on Merseyside and his side will have to come out and attack in Spain. But Ferdinand warned the Reds against complacency next week.

He thinks that four players – Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson and Henderson – will prevent it from happening: “They’ve got to fend off any type of complacency, you can’t let any complacency to creep in.

“Yes it is 2-0, but this tie is not over. But they’re a solid bunch, there is a togetherness there. Robertson and Henderson, Trent and van Dijk, they control that culture against complacency,” Ferdinand said, on BT Sport.

Ferdinand on complacency: Liverpool should beat Villarreal

While we have seen comebacks in the Champions League over the years, some of the best coming from the men in red, it has been sides that are pungent in attack. Villarreal are very defensive minded.

Villarreal will hardly rip up their approach and go completely attacking against Liverpool in the second leg – instead, pressing slightly higher but still playing compact. Against this Liverpool side, they will surely struggle.

Indeed, the Reds securing a 2-0 win is surely enough to see them into the final as things stand. Anything else from this point in, and it will be an enormous failure from the point of view of Jurgen Klopp, and the fans.