Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has said that the result of the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals between Liverpool and Villarreal at El Madrigal will have a huge bearing in deciding which team will progress into the final.

Liverpool are away to the Spaniards on Thursday night and with the two teams so closely matched, it is anybody's guess as to who will emerge victorious.

Former Villarreal star Cazorla has had a say regarding the match and believes that the result of the first leg at El Madrigal will be crucial in determining which team goes through.

The Spanish international told AS: "It's a very even tie but I believe if Villarreal play as they can, they have a great chance to go through.

"Any team can suffer at Anfield, and they will suffer for sure. But they key to the tie will be [the first leg] at El Madrigal.

"[Liverpool] have a clear philosophy, they are an intense team up front, they press very high up, but if Villarreal get past this pressure and can move the ball around, they will have made a lot of progress."