Liverpool eye third straight UEFA Champions League win as Villarreal visit Anfield 

Liverpool return to Champions League action on Tuesday evening as they welcome Spanish side Villarreal to Anfield, looking to maintain their perfect start to the 2026/27 league phase.

Andoni Iraola’s side have won both of their opening European fixtures, beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 before recording an emphatic 6-3 victory away at LASK last week. The Reds also arrive following a 2-1 Premier League victory over Brentford on Saturday, with Alexander Isak scoring the winner.

Villarreal, meanwhile, travel to Merseyside after securing an impressive 3-1 Champions League victory over Napoli. With both sides coming into the fixture on the back of European wins, Tuesday’s meeting promises to be an intriguing contest between two clubs with plenty of recent continental history.

Liverpool Looking to Make It Three From Three

Liverpool have enjoyed a strong start to their Champions League campaign, scoring eight goals across their opening two fixtures and collecting six points from a possible six.

Their most recent European outing saw Bradley Barcola produce an outstanding individual performance against LASK, scoring a hat-trick as Liverpool ran out 6-3 winners in Austria.

That result was followed by Saturday’s victory at Brentford, where Victor Muñoz and Alexander Isak overturned a one-goal deficit to secure three important Premier League points. Florian Wirtz was particularly influential, creating nine chances as Liverpool returned to winning ways domestically.

With Isak back among the goals and Barcola enjoying an impressive week, Iraola has several attacking options available as his side prepare for another important European fixture.

Villarreal Arrive Following Impressive Napoli Victory

Villarreal have experienced a mixed start to their Champions League campaign, losing 3-2 against Borussia Dortmund before responding with an excellent 3-1 victory over Italian champions Napoli.

Despite falling behind early against the Serie A side, Iñigo Pérez’s team recovered through goals from Georges Mikautadze and Santiago Mouriño before Tani Oluwaseyi completed the scoring late in the second half.

The Spanish side followed that result with a goalless draw against Elche in La Liga on Saturday. However, their performance against Napoli demonstrated their ability to compete against established European opposition.

Villarreal will now be looking to build on that result when they visit Anfield, with Mikautadze and experienced forward Gerard Moreno among the players Liverpool will need to keep quiet.

Previous Meetings: Liverpool’s Memorable European Victories

Liverpool and Villarreal are familiar opponents in European competition, having previously met in the semi-finals of both the Europa League and Champions League.

Their first competitive meetings came in the 2015/16 Europa League, when Villarreal claimed a narrow 1-0 first-leg victory in Spain. Liverpool responded with an impressive 3-0 win at Anfield, securing their place in the final.

The clubs met again six years later in the 2021/22 Champions League semi-finals, with Liverpool winning the first leg 2-0 at Anfield thanks to a Pervis Estupiñán own goal and a strike from Sadio Mané.

The return fixture in Spain proved considerably more dramatic. Villarreal scored twice before half-time to level the aggregate score, but second-half goals from Fabinho, Luis Díaz and Mané secured a 3-2 victory on the night and a 5-2 aggregate triumph for Liverpool.

Liverpool have consequently won three of their four previous competitive meetings with Villarreal, including both encounters at Anfield.

A Huge Run of Home Fixtures Begins at Anfield

Tuesday’s Champions League meeting also begins a demanding sequence of four consecutive home matches for Liverpool across three competitions.

Following Villarreal’s visit, the Reds welcome Brighton to Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday 25th October before hosting Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday 28th October.

The sequence concludes with a major Premier League meeting against Arsenal on Sunday 1st November, giving Iraola’s side several important fixtures in quick succession.

For now, Liverpool’s immediate focus remains on Villarreal, with victory on Tuesday securing a third successive Champions League win and strengthening their position in the league phase standings.

Liverpool v Villarreal: Frequently Asked Questions

When is Liverpool v Villarreal?

Liverpool face Villarreal on Tuesday 20th October 2026, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST.

Where is Liverpool v Villarreal being played?

The Champions League fixture will take place at Anfield, Liverpool’s home stadium.

Have Liverpool and Villarreal met before?

Yes. Liverpool and Villarreal have previously met four times in competitive European fixtures, with Liverpool winning three and Villarreal winning one.

How have Liverpool performed in the Champions League this season?

Liverpool have won both of their opening 2026/27 Champions League league phase fixtures, beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 and LASK 6-3.