Former Liverpool and Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes admits his old side have their work cut out to get past Villarreal and reach the Europa League final. Air Max Plus Sale . Liverpool produced a stunning fightback, twice coming from two goals behind to beat Borussia Dortmund 4-3 on Thursday night and 5-4 on aggregate, after Dejan Lovrens injury-time header at Anfield.They were drawn to play the Yellow Submarine in Fridays draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon but Morientes believes playing the second leg at Anfield gives Liverpool the upper hand. Villarreal is one of the best teams in La Liga at the moment, Morientes told Sky Sports News HQ. Dejan Lovren heads Liverpools winner on Thursday night They have a stadium which might not hold too many people but they play very good football. They have a very strong mentality and the coach always tries to attack. Its always the same.But its the same with Liverpool they always try to score the goal that will win them the match. Villarreal are a very good team and I think next year they will play in the Champions League for sure. Villarreal have former Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado in their ranks Liverpool will need to play with a strong mentality in both games because Villarreal can score and they have good strikers.Asked about the prospect of Jurgen Klopps side playing the second leg at home, Morientes said: That is one point to Liverpool. It is better for them to play the second game in Liverpool. Morientes thinks the Anfield second leg could be key Morientes made 60 appearances during 18 months at Liverpool after joining the Merseysiders from Real Madrid in January 2005.He won the European Super Cup with Liverpool later that year but was cup-tied for the Champions League campaign, which saw the Reds win the competition after coming back from three goals down to beat AC Milan on penalties in an epic final in Istanbul. Morientes (l) celebrates with Djibril Cisse after Liverpools 2005 European Super Cup win Morientes - who also played for Monaco, Marseille and Valencia during his glittering 22-year playing career - admits he saw no way back for Liverpool on Thursday night after they trailed 3-1 with 33 minutes remaining.In Europe, it is always difficult to win if you need to score three goals, he said.It was amazing. It was a very exciting game but after Reus scored Borussias third goal, I thought the game was over. Morientes (l) is a three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid Istanbul was similar but it was the final of the Champions League.But Liverpool played a great second half and the atmosphere at Anfield was so important in helping them win the game. Players like to play in that kind of atmosphere. It was spectacular. Heres what to expect from the Europa League semi finals Also See: Liverpool to face Villarreal Balague: Reds will be favourites Liverpool 4-3 Dortmund (5-4 agg) Get a ￡10 free bet! Yeezy Sale ." Those traits were clear to the 24,071 at Olympic Stadium on Saturday as the Impact dominated the scoring chances but settled for a 2-2 draw with the New York Red Bulls in a battle of still-winless Major League Soccer teams. Wholesale Shoes Website .ca. In Sundays Blackhawks-Penguins game, Pittsburgh defenceman Brooks Orpik laid a huge hit on Chicagos Jonathan Toews. Now in my view, Orpik can be clearly seen leaving his feet while delivering a moderately high hit. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/ . A little more than one year after missing a last-second tip-in that would have given the Wolverines a share of the Big Ten regular-season title, the 6-foot-8 forward scored on a layup with 7.PHILADELPHIA - Despite a slow start to the season, the Raptors (4-7) can overtake the surprising 76ers (5-7) in the standings and claim sole possession of first place in the Atlantic when the division rivals meet on Wednesday. Dwane Casey has reminded his players that "the league hasnt gone anywhere" and their own division is a prime example. Its still early but Atlantic front runners New York and Brooklyn sit at the bottom of the division, both at 3-7, while Philadelphia - expected to be among the NBAs worst this season - has been a pleasant surprise, although the young 76ers appear to be coming back down to earth. "You read all this stuff about, theyre not playing to win, or whatever," Casey said, referring to the widespread belief that Philadelphia has constructed its team with the intention to tank this season. "Teams go in there with that relaxed attitude and thats not true." "Whatever the message is, those players are playing hard to win. You can have a different mission as an organization but as players theyre playing to win." After a 3-0 start - with impressive wins over the Heat and Bulls - the 76ers have struggled and, like the Raptors, have lost three of four coming into Wednesdays game. Two of Torontos defeats have come in overtime, including a 118-110 loss to the Trail Blazers at home Sunday afternoon. Rudy Gay scored 10 of his team-high 30 points during a 19-6 fourth-quarter run which was capped off by the forwards buzzer-beating layup to force extra time. The 76ers - who have defeated Toronto in seven of nine meetings - are coming off a 97-94 loss in Dallas on Monday, a game in which they shot just 38 per cent from the field. "They play really hard and outwork guys," said Philadelphia-native Kyle Lowry. "Theyve got some good players, theyve got players that are trying to make a name for themselves and theyre just going out there and playing hard." The Raptors havent been atop the Atlantic later than 10 games into a season since 2006-07, the only year they won the division. Trends and Tidbits Gay (20.6 points per game) and DeMar DeRozan (20.5) are one of four pairs of teammates averaging 20 or more points apiece in the NBA. Gay has scored 20 or more in each of the last four contests however, the team is winless (0-3) when both players exceed 20 points in the same game. The Raptors are 0-5 when DeRozan scores 20 or more. Gay and DeRozan have accounted for 46 per cent of the teams field goal attempts through 11 games, shooting a combined 39 per cent from the floor. The Raptors have reached 100 points in four of their last five games, averaging 102.4 points, after failing to hit the century mark in each of the six games to open the season, scoring 92.3. Toronto is 2-2 when scoring 100 or more this season and was 16-16 a year ago. Amir Johnson is one block away from reaching 500 for his career. Johnson has blocked 342 shots in 310 games as a Raptor and currently ranks seventh on the teams all-time blocks list. What to Watch For Control the pace With an average age just under 24-years-old,, the 76ers are tied with Cleveland for the youngest team in the NBA. Wholesale Shoes From China. . Theyre young, theyre quick and they look to run wherever possible. "They have some guys that get out in transition," Casey said of the hosting 76ers, who play at the fastest pace in the league. "Weve got to get back, build a wall, ready to play quick one-one-one defence and then when the shot goes up, weve got to make sure we find a body." Conversely, Toronto is last in the league in pace and although the Raptors coach has indicated hed like to get out in transition, hes also not planning on forcing the issue. "I dont know if we have natural runners," Casey said. "A lot of people get caught up in pace of play [but] I dont. I think you have to play the pace of play thats comfortable according to your talents." Pressure the young Sixers "The number one thing, the way they beat Miami, the way they beat Houston, the way they beat Chicago is hard play," Casey said of the 76ers. "Weve got to match that intensity at their place." The 76ers have snuck up on a few of the leagues elite teams with their hard play but more recently, their youth and inexperience has stood out. Philadelphia is committing an average of 17.3 turnovers per game, sixth most in the league, including 4.4 in the fourth quarter. Toronto has outscored its opponent in the fourth quarter in each of its last four games. Bench production Can either teams second unit step up and take pressure off the starters? Both teams rank in the bottom four in bench scoring, the Sixers reserves averaging 24.3 points per game (27th) and Torontos subs scoring 23.9 (29th). Who to Watch For Kyle Lowry The Raptors point guard has done a better job as the teams floor general, totalling 24 assists and only three turnovers over the last three games. However, he continues to struggle with his jump shot. Lowry is just 6-for-26 from the field in his last two contests, including 1-for-14 from three-point range. Lowry, a Philadelphia native, will look to get back on track against the team he grew up watching. "It never gets old," Lowry said ahead of his return to Philadelphia. "It never gets old because its home." The 27-year-old is averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 assists in five career games in his hometown. Evan Turner The fourth-year forward is one of the young 76ers players who has stood out early in the season, taking advantage of the added playing time hes been given. Turner is scoring a career-best 22.0 points per game on 47 per cent shooting, also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists. Historically, Turner has struggled against Toronto, averaging only 8.2 points on 35 per cent shooting in 11 career meetings with the Raptors. Injury Report 76ers rookie point guard Michael Carter-Williams has missed the last four games with a bruised left foot but participated in shootaround Wednesday morning and hopes to play against Toronto. Raptors forward Quincy Acy is questionable after spraining his right ankle early in Sundays game against Portland. ' ' '