Premier League International Cup

Villarreal close in on knockout stage with win

21 Nov 2018
Villarreal players celebrate scoring against Liverpool

Seven-goal victory at Liverpool all but secures a quarter-final place for the 2015/16 International Cup champions

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Villarreal look set to reach the Premier League International Cup quarter-finals after overcoming Liverpool 7-0 to move six points clear at the top of Group E. 

The Reds handed Under-23 debuts to Ki-Jana Hoever, Rhys Williams and Luis Longstaff in a much-changed line-up as the Spanish visitors secured an impressive victory at the Kirkby Academy.

Mario Gonzalez's double either side of a Sergio Lozano strike put the 2015/16 champions 3-0 up inside 15 minutes before Nikola Vujnovic made the score 4-0 at half-time. 

Vujnovic struck again after a goal from Adrian Riera before Mukwelle Akale wrapped up the comprehensive win in stoppage-time.

Villarreal have seven points after playing all three group matches, while Group E opponents Swansea City, Hertha Berlin and Liverpool all have two matches remaining.

Second-placed Swansea are six points adrift, meaning Villarreal are all but guaranteed to progress to the last eight as one of the six group winners or the two best runners-up.

See: Liverpool report

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