Page 339 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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Likely is an adjective with a similar meaning to probable.
I don't think a Labour victory is likely. The opposite is unlikely. What's a likely date for the election? Snow is very unlikely.
Note also the informal adverb phrases very/most likely. I think she'll very/most Ukely be late.
it is (un)likely + that-clause
We can use it as a preparatory subject or object for a that-clause (see 446.7). It's likely that the meeting will go 011 late.
I thought it unlikely that she would come back.
infinitive after be (un)likely
Be + (un)likely is often followed by an infinitive.
I'm likely to be busy tomorrow.
Do you think it's likely to rain? He's unlikely to agree.
link verbs: be, seem, look etc common link verbs
Some verbs are used to join an adjective or noun complement to a subject. These verbs can be called 'link verbs', 'copulas' or 'copular verbs'. Common examples: be, seem, appear, look, sound, smell, taste, feel, become, get.
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function or role: He worked as a waiter
Another use of as is to say what function or role a person or thing has - what jobs people do, what purposes things are used for, what category they belong to, etc. In this case, as is a preposition, used before a noun.
He worked as a waiter for two years. (NOT ••• like a waiter.) Please don't use that knife as a screwdriver.
A crocodile starts life as an egg.
Compare this use of as with like.
As your brother, I must warn you to be careful. (I am your brother.)
Like your brother, I must warn you to be carefuL (I am not your brother, but he and 1 have similar attitudes.)
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adjectives after link verbs
Note that as is usually pronounced /ez/ (see 616). For comparisons with as ... as. see 136.
For like used instead of as it. see 74.
For What . .. like? see 253.
For like used to join two infinitive structures. see 281.4.
likely meaning
For alike, see 34.
For the same as. see 503. For such as. see 508.6.
The weather is horrible. That car looks fast.
The stew smells good.
I do feel a fool.
She became a racehorse trainer. It's getting late.
After link verbs we use adjectives, not adverbs. Compare:
link verbs: be, seem, look etc 328
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