Liverpool vs Villarreal: Champions League Preview

Liverpool vs Villarreal is the pick of Tuesday’s Champions League league-stage fixtures, with kick-off at Anfield at 21:00 SAST (19:00 UTC) on 20 October 2026. This preview covers form, injuries, head-to-head history and the questions that could shape the match.

How are Liverpool and Villarreal placed in the Champions League?

Liverpool sit fifth in the league-stage table with six points from two matches, after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 at home and winning 6-3 at LASK. That gives them a goal difference of plus four and a perfect start.

Villarreal are 14th with three points, having lost 3-2 at Borussia Dortmund before beating Napoli 3-1. As a result, the Spanish side arrive with one win and one defeat, and a goal difference of plus one.

In addition, the 6-3 win at LASK is worth a look back, and our LASK vs Liverpool preview covers how that match was framed.

What is Liverpool’s recent form?

Liverpool won 2-1 at Brentford on 17 October, which followed a 3-0 home defeat to Manchester City on 11 October. Between those two results came the 6-3 win in Linz in the Champions League, so the picture is mixed but largely positive.

Earlier in the season, they won 1-0 at Bournemouth and drew 0-0 with Fulham at Anfield. For more detail on the latest league win, see our Brentford vs Liverpool report.

However, the defensive numbers deserve attention. Liverpool have conceded four goals in two Champions League matches, so even in winning they have allowed chances. Meanwhile, they have scored eight, which shows how much attacking threat they carry.

What is Villarreal’s recent form?

Villarreal drew 0-0 at home to Elche on 17 October, and before that lost 1-0 at Real Madrid on 10 October. In between, they beat Napoli 3-1 in the Champions League on 13 October, which was their best result of the campaign.

Earlier this season, they beat Levante 3-1 and won 3-1 at Malaga, though they also lost 2-1 to Real Betis. In other words, Villarreal have shown they can score, but they have not been consistent.

Their Champions League record shows five goals scored and four conceded. Therefore both sides have scored freely, and the match could be open if neither team settles quickly.

Which players are injured for Liverpool vs Villarreal?

Liverpool’s injury list is long. According to the injury data we reviewed, Bradley (knee), Ekitike (Achilles), Frimpong (muscle), Leoni (knee) and Szoboszlai (muscle) are all listed as out.

For Villarreal, only Pepe is listed, with an eye injury. As a result, the visitors appear to have the healthier squad, although that situation can change before kick-off.

Still, confirmed line-ups only appear about an hour before the game, so check the official Liverpool and UEFA channels before kick-off.

What does the head-to-head record say?

The clubs have met four times in European competition, always in semi-finals. In 2016, Villarreal won 1-0 at home in the Europa League before Liverpool won 3-0 at Anfield.

In 2022, Liverpool won the Champions League semi-final 5-2 on aggregate, winning 2-0 at Anfield and 3-2 in Villarreal. Liverpool came from behind in Spain to reach the final, as the club’s official website reported at the time.

However, those matches were played with very different squads. Therefore the history is interesting but offers limited guidance for Tuesday.

What could decide Liverpool vs Villarreal?

The first factor is Liverpool’s attack against a Villarreal defence that has conceded four goals in two Champions League games. If Liverpool create chances early, the home crowd at Anfield may add momentum.

The second factor is how Villarreal handle the pressure. Villarreal played Elche on 17 October. Meanwhile, Liverpool also played that day, so both sides arrive after a busy week with a fourth match in ten days.

Finally, set pieces and transitions often matter in games between sides that attack. Because both teams have conceded, a single moment could swing the match. We do not make predictions here, but you can follow the build-up in our Champions League hub and our live scores page.

Frequently asked questions