Champions League: 14 facts to know about Liverpool's clash with Villarreal
Preview Liverpool’s Champions League fixture against Villarreal on Tuesday with our pre-match facts and figures.
The Reds host the La Liga side at Anfield for matchday three of the league phase (8pm BST), having won both of their opening two games.
Here are 14 things to know about the clash with Villarreal…
These two teams have contested four matches previously – all of which were in semi-finals (2015-16 Europa League and 2021-22 Champions League).
Liverpool have won 15 of their last 16 Champions League group-stage/league-phase fixtures at Anfield.
This is the Reds’ 59th match against Spanish clubs – the most they have played versus teams from any other nation.
Andoni Iraola’s last goal in professional football was scored during a 4-0 win over Villarreal for Athletic Club in May 2015.
Liverpool have won their last seven group-stage/league-phase games against teams from Spain, keeping four clean sheets in the most recent six.
Ronald Araujo has played seven times against Villarreal previously in his career, winning five.
Alexander Isak, meanwhile, scored three goals in five appearances for Real Sociedad against Villarreal.
None of Liverpool’s last 45 European games have ended in a draw. Their last was a 3-3 against Benfica at Anfield in April 2022.
All six of Alexis Mac Allister’s Champions League goals have been scored at Anfield.
The Reds have played four games in European competition on October 20 before and are yet to win – drawing at home to Bayern Munich in 1971, losing at Trabzonspor in 1976, drawing with Valencia at Anfield in 1998, and losing to Olympique Lyonnais on home soil in 2009.
Villarreal’s 3-1 home victory over Napoli a week ago was the first success in their last 13 matches in the Champions League proper (two draws, 10 defeats), coming after seven losses in a row.
The ‘Yellow Submarine’ have won once in England in 11 prior visits – a 2-1 victory at Everton in a Champions League qualifier in 2005.
Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi was on the bench 51 times during his spell at Liverpool from 2008 to 2013 but never made a competitive appearance.
Inigo Perez, who took charge of the visitors in the summer, was assistant coach to Iraola at Rayo Vallecano during the 2022-23 season.
