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Liverpool host Villarreal in Champions League matchday three

Liverpool host Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday in Champions League matchday three, having won both of their opening two European fixtures this season.

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Liverpool players train ahead of their Champions League matchday three fixture against Villarreal at Anfield.
Timmy96 / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons

Liverpool face Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday in matchday three of the Champions League league phase, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm BST. The Reds arrive into the fixture having won both of their opening two European games this season.

The two clubs have met four times previously, all in semi-finals — the 2015-16 Europa League and the 2021-22 Champions League. Liverpool have won 15 of their last 16 Champions League group-stage or league-phase fixtures at Anfield.

Alexis Mac Allister carries a notable home record in the competition: all six of his Champions League goals have come at Anfield. Liverpool have also won their last seven group-stage or league-phase matches against Spanish opposition, keeping clean sheets in four of the most recent six.

None of Liverpool's last 45 European fixtures has ended in a draw. Their most recent stalemate on the continent came in a 3-3 result against Benfica at Anfield in April 2022.

Villarreal arrive having ended a difficult run in European competition. Their 3-1 home victory over Napoli last week was their first Champions League win in 13 attempts, snapping a run of seven consecutive defeats.

The visitors have won just once in England in 11 prior trips — a 2-1 Champions League qualifier victory at Everton in 2005. Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, now at Villarreal, spent five years at Liverpool between 2008 and 2013 without ever making a competitive appearance, sitting on the bench on 51 occasions.

Villarreal head coach Inigo Perez, who took charge of the club in the summer, previously served as assistant to Andoni Iraola at Rayo Vallecano during the 2022-23 season. Iraola's final goal as a professional footballer came in a 4-0 win over Villarreal for Athletic Club in May 2015.

Defender Ronald Araujo has a solid personal record against Tuesday's opponents, winning five of seven previous appearances against Villarreal in his career. Alexander Isak, meanwhile, scored three goals in five games for Real Sociedad against the same side.

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