Yellow Submarine sink Liverpool late on after Lopez’s injury-time winner

The visiting Reds continued to attack, however, and had efforts from out the area, firstly from Lucas Leiva and then Adam Lallana. Neither tested Spanish stopper Asenjo.

Villarreal certainly continued played their part in the opening stages action too, and Tomas Pina forced Simon Mignolet into a save down to his left, while getting another half-chance due to a poor clearance.

Shots on goal dried up from then on, until minutes before the break, when Soldado’s inward curler just grazed the post.

Woodwork save both teams in second-half

DR Congo striker Cedric Bakambu, who has been prolific for Villarreal this season especially in the Europa League, nearly found the target straight after the break, but headed onto the outside of the upright from Jonathan dos Santos’ corner.

The pace slowed down for the next few minutes, though Roberto Firmino sprang into life and found the post too, via Asenjo’s palm.

With the match seemingly destined to finish 0-0, both sides suddenly found themselves with one-on-one chances. Firstly, Villarreal’s Bakambu looked certain to score, but somehow Mignolet saved with an outstretched arm, while immediately at the other end Alberto Moreno was unable to hit the target.

Late Lopez winner will not break too many Liverpool hearts

But Lopez ensured that fans did go home after finally witnessing a goal, as he slotted into an empty net after latching onto Denis Suarez’s pass.

The win for the Spaniards gives them a narrow lead ahead of the second leg at Anfield, but going by the Reds’ astonishing triumph over Borussia Dortmund in the last round, the tie is far from over.

In the other semi-final, it was all square as Sevilla claimed two away goals in a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk.

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