Adam Lallana has hailed Liverpool's 3-1 aggregate win over Villarreal in their Europa League semi-final tie and is now relishing the final in Basel.

It was a frantic, high tempo start to the match at Anfield amid the backdrop of a fierce atmosphere created by the Liverpool fans.




Villarreal could not handle Liverpool's blistering start and the Reds took the lead in just the seventh minute. The ball came to Roberto Firmino, who put it into the danger zone and it came off Bruno and went into the Spanish side's net.

Liverpool were in the ascendancy and almost made it 2-0 in the 14th minute when Lallana went close.
 


Villarreal, playing with two up front, did look a threat on the break however and Mario Gaspar, played in by Giovani dos Santos, tested Simon Mignolet on the 20 minute mark.

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Liverpool were still the better side and held their lead heading into the half time break.

The Reds then took a decisive grip on the game just after the hour mark when Daniel Sturridge, getting on the end of a superb Firmino pass, made it 2-0.

Things got worse for Villarreal in the 71st minute when Victor Ruiz was sent off for a second bookable offence. And Liverpool killed off any hopes of a comeback for the Spanish side in the 82nd minute when Lallana converted from close range.

It ended 3-0, booking Liverpool a spot against Sevilla in the final and Lallana is delighted, telling BT Sport: "We knew it would be a difficult night, we knew they could get the away goal, but credit to the lads.

"The lads deserve to be in the final and hopefully we can win it.

"You have to show this competition respect and I feel we have done that all the way along."

And Lallana's team-mate Sturridge saluted a "great feeling" after reaching the Europa League final.

"There will always be ups and downs in football. It is about being prepared to put your body on the line and take chances. It is a great feeling."