2026-27 UEFA Champions League: League Phase – Liverpool vs Villarreal

Liverpool face Villarreal in a league-phase clash in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League. 

Victory could put Liverpool top if PSG and Barcelona draw in their clash and Stuttgart fail to beat Atletico Madrid.

Villarreal could move into the top eight with a win if results elsewhere go in their favour.

 

Team News

Ryan Gravenberch is back in contention for Liverpool after completing his domestic one-match ban in their 2-1 comeback win at Brentford.

Jeremie Frimpong is ruled out after he suffered a muscle injury at Brentford.

Dominik Szoboszlai (hamstring), Giovanni Leoni (ACL), Conor Bradley (knee) and Hugo Ekitike (Achilles) remain absent.

Villarreal could be without Nicolas Pepe after he missed their 0-0 draw at home to Elche in La Liga due to an eye injury.

Tajon Buchanan remains ruled out with a hamstring injury.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Liverpool host Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday 20 October at 8pm BST, live on Amazon Prime Video in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Liverpool have won their two previous Champions League meetings against Villarreal (W2).
• Villarreal lost 2-0 in their only previous Champions League visit to Liverpool at Anfield in April 2022 in the first leg of their eventual semi-final exit in the 2021-22 edition.
• Liverpool have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their two league-phase matches this season (W2).
• Alvaro Mourino has scored in both of Villarreal’s league-phase games this season (W1, L1).

 

Prediction

Having produced a wasteful first half and conceded first at Brentford despite having dominated, Liverpool were lucky that the Bees were reduced to ten men at the time of their two goals before calmly protecting their lead after a messy win over LASK last week from 3-0 up to 6-3 at full time.

Villarreal meanwhile are an inconsistent team this season across all competitions so it’s very difficult to predict which type of performance they will produce, but they are certain to concede considering that they have kept a single clean sheet which unsurprisingly came on Saturday before this trip.

I however do think that Liverpool should get the win but Villarreal probably will nick a goal knowing their unpredictable luck.

Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Villarreal