Liverpool's perfect start tests Villarreal's underdog hopes at Anfield

Liverpool have started the Champions League campaign in emphatic fashion, winning both of their opening league-stage matches and scoring eight goals while conceding only four. Now they welcome Villarreal to Anfield on Tuesday with the favourite’s label firmly attached, and the question is whether the visitors can turn their underdog status into a real threat.

Stakes at Anfield

This is the third round of the league stage, and both sides are still chasing a strong start to the competition. Liverpool sit fifth in the 36-team table with six points and a goal difference of +4. Villarreal are 14th with three points and a goal difference of +1, so a win for the Spanish side would be a significant step up the standings.

Two different starts

Liverpool’s form speaks for itself. Their two victories have produced an average of four goals per game, and they have kept their opponents to two on average. Anfield has been a place where they have looked dangerous from the first whistle.

Villarreal have had a more uneven opening. They have won one match and lost one, scoring five goals and conceding four. Their away defeat came with a late goal conceded, a pattern that will concern them against a side as potent as Liverpool.

Head-to-head

The recent history between the two clubs favours the home side. Across the last four meetings in European competition, Liverpool have won three and Villarreal one. Liverpool have scored eight goals in those games to Villarreal’s three, including a 3-0 win at Anfield in 2016 and a 2-0 victory on Merseyside in 2022. Villarreal’s best result was a 2-3 win in the reverse fixture that same spring, showing they have the quality to win at Liverpool’s expense.

Team news

Liverpool will be without several important players. Centre-back C. Bradley, G. Leoni and H. Ekitike are all sidelined through injury, with Ekitike’s Achilles problem the most significant. F. Chiesa and W. Endo are also not in the squad. J. Frimpong is a doubt because of an injury, so his availability will be a late concern for the home side.

Villarreal face their own problems. T. Buchanan is out with a muscle injury and N. Pepe is missing because of an eye problem, leaving the visitors without two players who could have offered options going forward.

Our prediction

Liverpool should have enough firepower and home conviction to control this match, and their recent goalscoring suggests they can break Villarreal down. Villarreal have shown they can score and can win at Anfield, though, and they will hope their attack finds space if the hosts’ injury list stretches their defence. We expect Liverpool to prevail, with Villarreal earning a goal to show that the underdog has a real chance.

Liverpool 2-1 Villarreal