Liverpool too mindful of away-goals rule in 1st-leg defeat to Villarreal

Liverpool's plan to leave the Estadio El Madrigal with a 0-0 draw intact completely fell apart in stoppage time Thursday. Villarreal exposed the Reds when one arching pass opened up the defense. A perfect touch from Denis Suarez gave the speedy Spaniard room and time to set up the dramatic late winner, handing the visitor its first Europa League loss of the season.

A 1-0 score isn't a death sentence by any means. In fact, Liverpool has advanced from eight of the 13 European ties in which it endured a first-leg away defeat of that magnitude.

Related: Villarreal sets club record by staying unbeaten in 12 straight European matches

Still, the Liverpool approach was further confirmation that the away-goals rule is a lingering shadow over every knockout fixture. Manchester City was wary of it on Tuesday against Real Madrid, even without Cristiano Ronaldo and, later, Karim Benzema on the pitch. City favoured the clean sheet over goals, and it will go to the Santiago Bernabeu thinking it has the advantage.

On this night, Liverpool suffered the reverse effect of cautiousness, when playing for a draw led to complacency and, in turn, a late collapse.

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp lamented the late mistake, openly criticising full-back Alberto Moreno for leaving such a large void on that fatal counter-attack. But all wasn't lost for the German. Liverpool plays host next Thursday, and that's where the club has the freedom to express itself the way it usually does.

"90 minutes played, 95, we will play at Anfield and that is a different game then," Klopp told BT Sport after the match.

Of course, Anfield witnessed a heroic comeback not even a month ago. With Liverpool down 3-1 to Borussia Dortmund and in need of three goals to advance, the Reds committed numbers forward and never gave up an inch of grass. The energy was rampant, and so were the goals, as Liverpool scored three unanswered to advance 4-3 on aggregate.

The overwhelming belief that Liverpool can overturn another deficit is there.

But Klopp's selections put his team at an unnecessary disadvantage. A front three of Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino, and Adam Lallana provided more "stability," the manager explained before the contest. Omitting in-form striker Daniel Sturridge entirely from the occasion was a clear indication that goals weren't a priority.

The sight alone of a Klopp side playing for a draw seemed unnatural.

Even more damning were the many quality opportunities for Liverpool to take a lead at the Madrigal.

Klopp said previously he would monitor the minutes Sturridge plays in an attempt to curb the potential of an injury setback. The striker, after all, has missed action with various ailments in recent months.

With four goals in his past five matches, though, the England international could've delivered on a night that may have spoiled Liverpool's only shot at a title this season.