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Liverpool's Champions League campaign resumes on Tuesday, when they welcome Villarreal to Anfield in matchweek three of the competition.
The hosts are one of nine teams with six points from six, and they come into Tuesday's game in fifth place, whereas the La Liga visitors are 14th with three points.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Liverpool vs Villarreal key stats
- Liverpool have scored at least two goals in seven of their 10 games this campaign.
- Liverpool have conceded one or fewer goals in six of their last eight matches in all competitions.
- Virgil van Dijk has won 77% of his aerial duels in the Premier League this season.
Liverpool vs Villarreal preview: Andoni Iraola to continue perfect start?
Liverpool vs Villarreal — Tale of the Tape
| Liverpool | vs | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
| 5th (Champions League) | Position | 14th (Champions League) |
| 6 | Points | 3 |
| 8 | Goals For | 5 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 4 |
| 0 | Clean Sheets | 0 |
| 17th | Home / Away Rank | 17th |
Liverpool will return to campions League action on Tuesday, and they arrive into that game having beaten Brentford 2-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.
Though the Reds had to come back from a 1-0 deficit, they were impressive for large spells without the ball, and that will be a major positive for Andoni Iraola.
The hosts were far too easy to play against last season, while they have long struggled when trailing in away matches.
In fact, their victory against Brentford was their first win away from home in the Premier League when conceding the first goal since December 2023.
That win was also the club's sixth in eight games, with the Reds having beaten Atletico Madrid 2-1 and LASK 6-3 in the Champions League in that time.
Unfortunately for Iraola, the hamstring injury that Dominik Szoboszlai suffered against Brentford means he will be sidelined for some time, meaning Ryan Gravenberch is likely to partner Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.
Villarreal managed to claim victory in their most recent Champions League outing, beating Napoli 3-1 on October 13, and that win came as welcome relief given they had lost 3-2 against Borussia Dortmund on September 8.
The club's domestic showings have also been mixed, with the team having been held to a goalless stalemate by Elche on Saturday, and that left the visitors 12th in La Liga with just nine points from their first nine league games.
Tuesday will be just the fifth ever meeting between the Spanish side and Liverpool, and head coach Inigo Perez will be aware that his side have lost each of their past three clashes with the Reds.
Villarreal striker Georges Mikautadze found the back of the net against Napoli, and he is likely to be joined up front by Gerard Moreno at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Villarreal form guide & betting tips
| Liverpool | vs | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
WW |
Form | LW |
| 6 | Points | 3 |
| N/A | Form Table | N/A |
| 8 | Goals For | 5 |
| 4 | Goals Against | 4 |
WWLWW |
Form (All Comps) | WWLWD |
Whispers predicts: Liverpool 2-0 Villarreal
With Liverpool playing at Anfield, the bookmakers view a home win favourably at 12/25 (1.48).
It would make sense to back Over 1.5 Goals for Liverpool at 4/9 (1.44) given Liverpool have scored at least two goals in seven of their 10 games this campaign.
Liverpool have conceded one or fewer goals in six of their last eight matches in all competitions, and perhaps the home side will be able to keep a clean sheet, so it could make sense to bet Under 0.5 Goals for Villarreal at 8/5 (2.6).
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is nearly unbeatable in the air, with the Dutchman having won 77% of his aerial duels in the Premier League, so there could be value in predicting Virgil van Dijk to Score at (8).
> Over 1.5 Goals for Liverpool at 4/9 (1.44) | Likelihood: High
> Under 0.5 Goals for Villarreal at 8/5 (2.6) | Likelihood: Medium
> Virgil van Dijk to Score at (8) | Likelihood: Low