Klopp hails Diaz impact in Villarreal win

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has hailed Lucas Diaz’s impact in their 3-2 win over Villarreal on Tuesday night.

Diaz was introduced at halftime for Diogo Jota when the Reds were trailing at halftime and was influential as the visitors scored three second-half goals to sail through the final on a 5-2 aggregate.

“He had a massive impact. But what I don’t like about this is the next story is around that Diogo Jota was our problem: he was not at all our problem, we just had to mix it up.

“We had 11 problems, if you want, in the first half. We just had to mix it up, you can do that by explaining, what I did obviously, but you need then fresh input as well. Sadio all of a sudden was involved in the game, that was nothing to do with the position, it must have been a misunderstanding.

“For specific situations, I wanted Mo and Sadio high and wide, but not in open play situations. So even after working for so long together… it’s just because it means so much, that’s how it is, it means so much. First half all of a sudden we were not ourselves but second half we were ourselves and that’s why we won the game.

“Yes of course, Luis, what a goal and he had a few more situations. I think the first one he takes with a bicycle kick, if he takes that on the chest he can score already. So yeah, top performance,” Klopp said after the game.

Liverpool now awaits the winner between Manchester City and Real Madrid to know their opponents in the final set for Paris.