Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher believes that the Anfield crowd can play a huge role in the Europa League semi-final against Villarreal on Thursday.

To qualify for the final, the Reds will need to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg of the tie, and Carragher is confident that the Merseyside faithful will be up for the occasion.

"The crowd can make a huge difference," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"They certainly played a big part in us getting through to those Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007.

"I was in the crowd for the Dortmund game in the last round and there's no doubt the atmosphere drove the players on in those closing stages. They can have a massive influence.

"It's not only what it does for the Liverpool players but what it does to the opposition.

"Bigger and better teams than Villarreal have come to Anfield and frozen because of the atmosphere. I think about those Chelsea games and the impact the noise had on them.

"There's no doubt that if the fans can replicate what they did against Dortmund then Villarreal will be faced with something they won't have experienced in La Liga this season. It will be a fright for them.

"It's going to be touch and go on the night but with the Anfield crowd behind them I believe Liverpool can do it."