Rio Ferdinand sends Unai Emery warning to Liverpool ahead of Champions League semi-final

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has warned Liverpool not to underestimate Villarreal and Unai Emery ahead of their Champions League semi-final against the Spanish side.

Jurgen Klopp’s team, who won this competition in 2019, will face Villarreal for a place in the final after beating Portuguese outfit Benfica 6-4 on aggregate in a thrilling quarter-final tie.

Liverpool looked set for a meeting with German champions Bayern Munich when the quarter-final and semi-final draw was made last month, but Villarreal pulled off an upset to progress to the last-four at the expense of Bayern.

The Reds will be expected to be too strong for Villarreal, who are only seventh in La Liga, and reach another Champions League final under Klopp, but Ferdinand insists Liverpool cannot afford to underestimate their semi-final opponents.

Emery led Sevilla to three successive Europa League titles between 2014 and 2016, while he also lifted the trophy last season with Villarreal and reached the final during his spell at Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Arsenal.

Asked if he would rather see Liverpool or Manchester City win the Champions League this season, Ferdinand told BT Sport: ‘Just beware of Unai Emery.

‘His record in Europe is phenomenal. I’m just saying, it’s a fact. They beat Bayern Munich!’

The other Champions League semi-final sees Premier League leaders Man City face Spanish champions-elect Real Madrid.

In the previous round, Manchester City edged out Atletico Madrid in a fiery encounter while Real Madrid knocked out holders Chelsea.

Speaking after City’s Champions League win, Pep Guardiola said: ‘It is the champion of Spain and they played with energy and in second half were better than us and we were lucky we didn’t concede.

‘In