Liverpool — Villarreal: Preview
We outline the expectations for the encounter between Liverpool and Villarreal in the third group stage round of the 2026/27 Champions League.
The interesting but fortunate Villarreal travels to Liverpool’s home, which recovered after the heavy defeat to Manchester City.
Key Points
Liverpool
1. Liverpool quickly recovered from the loss to Man City
The Reds returned from the international break after a crushing 0-3 defeat to Manchester City, but that shock did not halt Andoni Iraola’s progress this season. The 6-3 win over LASK was very entertaining and low‑pressure, and the 2-1 victory over Brentford showed character: Liverpool lost, but capitalised on the numerical advantage after the opponent’s sending‑off. For the third‑round match against Villarreal, the side arrives without excessive pressure: they already have two Champions League wins – the first round saw a 2-1 victory over Atlético.
2. Injuries to Freympung and Soboslaí worsened Iraola’s situation
Jeremy Freympung lost the coach’s confidence as a starter, but remains in rotation as one of the first numbers. In the match against Brentford, the right‑back came on after the break, but was substituted for injury after six minutes. Dominik Soboslaí, who can also play right‑back, missed the games against Man City and LASK, and in the Brentford match started in the starting XI but was substituted at the end of the first half. The young and talented Ryo Ngumoh and Luis Kumas will likely feature in the starting lineup while Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo recover.
3. Home matches against Spanish sides are not a problem for Liverpool
A third consecutive Champions League win could greatly simplify Liverpool’s life in the competition and allow them to focus on upcoming domestic fixtures. There, the home front against Brighton, Chelsea and Arsenal – rivals that create problems – is more demanding than Spanish clubs in European competitions. Liverpool has already played at Anfield against Atlético (2-1), extending the winning streak against Spanish teams to four matches. The Reds’ experience at home against Villarreal is impeccable (two wins out of two), and Iraola’s opponent knows the club well from his work in the Primera División.
Villarreal
1. Villarreal seeks stability
The early phase of the season for Villarreal has been a storm of emotions: joy for the play and disappointment for the results. For example, in La Liga, Villarreal is second in expected goals (xG), but only ninth in the table. An illustrative example is the last match against Elche (0-0), when Villarreal created many moments but failed to convert any. Before that, Iniago Pérez’s side played a great Champions League match against Napoli (3-1), which was a success in all aspects. That win was the first in the competition, considering the away loss to Borussia Dortmund (2-3) in the first round.
2. Miçautade, Moreno and others return to the starting XI
After the Champions League match, Villarreal’s coach made many changes, keeping the freshness of some players and the physical preparation of others. For the next Champions League encounter, almost all key players return to the squad, including Jorge Miçautade, Renato Veiga and Papa Gui. Goalkeeper Peter Gulácsi should appear in goal, after losing the match against Napoli to a “thief attack” at his home. For Vengra, traveling to Liverpool is a special moment: the years in the deep reserve of the Reds’ club have probably not been forgotten.
3. We expect bold football from Villarreal
Traveling to Anfield probably will not change Iniago Pérez’s playing philosophy. This season, the team is interesting in all competitions: the matches were substantial, although the result did not reflect what happened on the field. It is important that Villarreal has played three away matches against high‑level rivals, offering serious resistance: a 2-2 draw with Atlético, defeats to Borussia (2-3) and Real (0-1). In each, Villarreal, while falling short in intensity, did not fall far behind. Why would they cling to their goalposts at Anfield? Only if Liverpool itself clings…
Estimated line‑ups 4-2-3-1 4-2-1-4
Baker 6
Kerkez 5
Jacque 4
Van Deijk 3
Araújo 8
Graham 4
Noni 9
Barcola 7
Virtus 3
Ngumoh 6
Kumas 2
Gulácsi 5
Morini 8
Foit 1
Veiga 2
Romero 4
Saliba 1
Comesan 1
Gui 1
Moleiro 7
Moreno 9
Miçautade 4
Betting predictions
In three of five Liverpool matches and four of five Villarreal matches, goals were exchanged. OZ — yes at 1.62.
In four of seven home Liverpool matches and three of five away Villarreal matches in La Liga, the teams scored four or more goals. TB 3.5 at 2.17.
Forecast
Liverpool vs Villarreal 20.10.2026 23:00
Liverpool suffered a heavy home defeat to Manchester City, but continued to progress under Andoni Iraola, thanks to the brilliant match against LASK and the win over Brentford. In the Reds’ squad, problems were identified due to injuries to Freympung and Soboslaí, and the difficult matches in England also loom in La Liga. Liverpool is the favourite against Villarreal, both for its status and for previous meetings with Spanish teams.
Villarreal, this season, is a curious display. Iniago Pérez’s side recovers quickly and loves to play attack, but its effectiveness is not as fluid as shown in the last match against Elche. However, on favourable days, the “yellow submarine” can be very dangerous – many teams have tested this this season, including Real, Borussia Dortmund and Atlético. If Villarreal shows its maximum level, there will be a real fight at Anfield. But the final victory will be for the Reds.
Prediction: 3-2
