Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday at Anfield.
Villarreal played the role of spoiler in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, first knocking out Juventus and then stifling Bayern Munich for a 2-1 aggregate win.
There was no chance Liverpool would take Villarreal lightly, with manager Jurgen Klopp saying in the buildup they were "a very difficult opponent" and "made for this competition."
"There might have been a little advantage in the last two games, maybe Juve or Bayern underestimated them, but that will never happen to us," Klopp told reporters.