Villarreal Visit Anfield With Liverpool Patched Up in Midfield

A win that cost more than it should have

Three points from Brentford should have Liverpool feeling good about themselves heading into this Champions League night, but in our view the mood around Anfield this week is more cautious than celebratory. Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both limped out of that 2-1 win, and Andoni Iraola has already confirmed neither is fit to face Villarreal. Frimpong’s absence looks like being the longer of the two, and losing him strips Liverpool of a genuine outlet down the right just when European form matters most.

Gravenberch’s return solves one problem

The good news, as we see it, is that Ryan Gravenberch is back from suspension and slots straight back in alongside Alexis Mac Allister. That pairing has looked Liverpool’s most reliable foundation all season, and we would be surprised if Iraola tinkers with it given how short his options are elsewhere. Cody Gakpo’s return from injury is the other piece of good fortune, and we expect him to take Victor Munoz’s place up front, leaving Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola and Alexander Isak to support him.

Defence picks itself, attack has to find a way

At the back, Ronald Araujo should continue at right-back after his substitute cameo at the weekend, with Virgil Van Dijk, Jacquet and Milos Kerkez holding their places too, though Kostas Tsimikas remains an option if Iraola fancies a change. Giovanni Leoni and Conor Bradley are still missing with long-term knee issues, and Hugo Ekitike remains unavailable as well.

Our predicted XI

Alisson, Araujo, Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Wirtz, Barcola, Isak.

Rio Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas and Trey Nyoni all offered encouraging glimpses off the bench against Brentford, and we would not be shocked to see one of them get minutes again here. On paper Liverpool still have enough to see off Villarreal, but with the treatment room filling up, the margin for error is shrinking fast.