Liverpool’s quadruple mission continues on Wednesday night when they host Villarreal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
The Anfield match will not be the first between the two countries, as the pair have previously faced each other in a European competition.
This happened in the 2015-16 season, when the duo met in the semifinals of the Europa League.
After losing the first game 1-0 in Spain, Liverpool overcame the deficit to triumph 3-0 in the rematch against Merseyside to establish themselves as a 3-1 overall winner.
But what happened to these players on both sides after six years? Sportsmail looks.
Daniel Sturridge (right) was right when Liverpool beat Villarreal in their last match in 2016.
Liverpool players celebrate during their victory over Villarreal in the Europa League semi-finals
LIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1)
GOALKEEPER: Simon MINOLE
The Belgian international was in his third season in Liverpool, when they faced Villarreal and spent another three years in Merseyside. However, this was his last real season as the club’s final number one, as Jurgen Klopp signed Loris Carius for the next term, and then Alison Becker in 2018.
After being reduced to a reserve goalkeeper under Alison, Mignolet left to join Bruges in August 2019 – where he remains.
Simone Mignolet (right) returns to Belgium to play for Bruges after leaving Liverpool
RIGHT NOTE: NATANIEL KLIN
This was his first season in the Reds and he made 52 appearances in all competitions during this term. He made 41 in 2016-17, but then a pre-season back injury in 2017-18 reduced him to just five games in his third campaign. An injury to the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee in July 2019 ruled him out for this entire 2019-20 campaign.
Now at the former Crystal Palace Club, making 15 appearances this season so far.
Nathaniel Klein (left) is at Crystal Palace now – has 15 appearances this season so far
ZABEL CENTER: DEYAN LOVREN
He spent six years at Anfield before leaving in the summer of 2020 – winning the Champions League and Premier League in the last two years there.
He left Liverpool for Zenit St. Petersburg, helping them win the Russian Premier League in their first term there.
Dejan Lovren left Liverpool in the summer of 2020 to join Russian giants Zenit St. Petersburg
CENTRAL GRAVE: ROUND TOUR
This turned out to be the last season of Côte d’Ivoire in Liverpool, as he was released by Klopp this summer. He played another season at Celtic, winning the Scottish title, the Scottish Cup and the Scottish League Cup.
After hanging up his boots, he joined the Celtic team behind the scenes and then followed Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City, where he coached the first team.
After retiring from football, Colo Toure is now a coach – currently working at Leicester City
LEFT BACK: ALBERTO MORENO
The Spaniard lost his place in the Liverpool team to Andrew Robertson in the 2017-18 season. He remained for another 12 months before leaving for Villarreal in 2019, after being released.
This will be the 29-year-old’s first game back to Anfield since he left.
Alberto Moreno (left) will hope to keep the Liverpool strikers at bay, now playing for Villarreal
RIGHT HAPPINESS: ADAM LALANA
The goal scorer of the third goal of the “reds” in their semifinal victory over Villarreal, this may have been the peak of Lalana’s career in Liverpool, before the injuries took their toll.
He left Liverpool in the summer of 2020 to help them win the Premier League and is now in Brighton after regaining his form.
Adam Lallana (center) scores Liverpool’s third goal against Villarreal to support their victory
CENTRAL CHRALF: EMRE CAN
He showed incredible heart and determination to be ready for the clash with Villarreal, after breaking his ankle ties against Borussia Dortmund in the previous stage.
He left Liverpool with a free transfer in July 2018, joining Juventus. Now in Dortmund, after joining Juve in January 2020.
Emre Can (right) returns to play in his native Germany with Borussia Dortmund
CENTRAL HALF: JAMES MILNER
Only one of the two players in Liverpool XI who are still at the club.
Now 36, Milner still plays on Klopp’s side – 34 times in all competitions this season.
James Milner (right) seems to ignite Anfield’s crowd during this Europa League semi-final
LEFT FIELD: PHILIPPE KUTINO
The Liverpool mascot looked like his departure from Barcelona would be a crushing blow for the club in 2018. However, they only improved as the Reds used the money to sign world-class duo Alison and Virgil van Dyke.
After a disappointing period at Barça, Coutinho returned to the Premier League after signing with Aston Villa on loan in January.
Filipe Coutinho (right) returns to the Premier League – currently on loan at Aston Villa
ATTACKING HAFF: ROBERTO FIRMINO
The other player, along with Milner, is still part of the Reds. Roberto Firmino will remain a Liverpool legend and is an integral part of their front line, along with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.
He played a minor role this season due to the form of Diogo Hotta and Luis Diaz, but expect him to play in both games against Villarreal.
Roberto Firmino (right) is the other player still in Liverpool with Milner since 2016.
Forward: DANIEL STARAGE
He turned the tie six years ago with his finish in the 63rd minute to put Liverpool 2-1 ahead. He also scored the first goal of the Europa League final in a 3-1 loss to Sevilla.
He lost his place to Firmino the following season and played a role in the following seasons before his release in July 2019.
After an unfortunate period at the Turkish club Trabzonspor, the 32-year-old now suffers a similar fate in the Australian team of Perth Glory, and the striker will be released at the end of the season.
Daniel Sturridge’s transition (left) to Perth Glory, Australia failed
VILREAL (4-4-2)
GOALKEEPER: ALFONS AREOLA
He was on loan for the entire season at Villarreal from Paris Saint-Germain, playing a total of 37 games for the club.
Not unknown to Liverpool, Areola is currently in the Premier League – after joining West Ham on loan this term from PSG. This temporary move comes from spending the whole of 2020-2021 in Fulham in the English Championship.
Alphonse Areola is on loan at West Ham this season from French giants Paris Saint-Germain
RIGHT GRAVE: MARIO GASPAR
Mr. Villarreal, the 31-year-old footballer has spent his entire career with the Spanish team – after playing 422 games for the club.
Despite his longevity, he is now the club’s third back behind former Tottenham duo Juan Voight and Serge Orie.
Mario Gaspar has 422 games for Villarreal, but is now their third right back
CENTRAL GRAVE: MATEO MUSACIO
The seven years of the central defender in El Madrigal led him to become captain of Villarreal and to participate in a total of 249 games and score seven goals.
He left for Milan in May 2017 and later joined Lazio, but is currently a free agent after his release.
Matteo Musacchio is currently a free agent after being released from Lazio earlier this season
ZABEL CENTER: VICTOR RUIS
He was sent off for two yellow cards during the rematch of Liverpool’s Europa League semi-finals.
After leaving Villarreal in August 2019 for Besiktas, the central defender is now at Real Betis – after joining in the summer of 2020.
Victor Ruiz (center) was sent off during Liverpool’s defeat of Villarreal to complicate their evening
The central defender left the field after receiving his second yellow card in the return match
LEFT HORN: HAM COSTA
Another long-term match for Villarreal, the left-back ended his nine-year stay at the club last summer. Now 34 years old, the defender is from Mallorca.
Left-back Haume Costa (right) is already in Mallorca after leaving Villarreal last summer
RIGHT HAPPINESS: JONATHAN DOS SANTOS
He joined Villarreal in 2014 to play with his older brother and did so for one season. He spent three more campaigns in Spain before leaving for the LA Galaxy and reuniting with his brother and sister.
He left the MLS team in December 2021 to join Club America with a free shuttle.
Jonathan dos Santos (left) plays for Mexican Club America, who joined in December
CENTRAL HREL: TOMASH PINA
This was the final of his three seasons at Villarreal before joining Bruges.
Now 34, he is currently returning to Spain in Alaves from La Liga.
Former Villarreal midfielder Tomasz Pina (left) currently plays for La Liga Alaves
CENTRAL HALF: BRUNO SORIANO
Together with Mario Gaspar, Bruno Soriano bleeds yellow. A man from a club, the Villarreal legend ended his 14-season career with the Yellow Submarine at the end of his 2019-20 term to retire. During that time he played 425 games for the club.
However, he will not have fond memories of the game with Liverpool after scoring an early own goal in the return leg to reverse his team’s 1-0 advantage from the first draw.
Villarreal legend Bruno Soriano (second from left) scored an own goal to equalize the total
LEFT POLFAL: DENIS SUARES
Do you remember him? One of the three Villarreal players on this team who also play in the Premier League. It was the only season for the winger in El Madrigal before Barcelona grabbed him.
His three years in Barcelona include a short lease at Arsenal in January 2019 until the end of the season. This summer he returned to Celta Vigo, where he spent his youth, where he remained.
Denis Suarez (left) returns to Celta Vigo after a career that includes periods at Barcelona and Arsenal
Forward: ROBERTO SOLDADO
Together with Alphonse Areola and Denis Suarez, Roberto Soldado completes the hat trick of Villarreal players to play in the Premier League.
The 2015-16 campaign was his first at Villarreal since leaving Tottenham in the summer of 2015. He spent two years on the Spanish team before joining Fenerbahce. He has since returned to Spain, first with Granada and now with Levante.
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