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Key events
Liverpool and Villarreal have been drawn together in Europe on two previous occasions. Both ties were semi-finals – of the 2016 Europa League and the 2022 Champions League – and though both were eventually won by Liverpool, Villarreal gave Jurgen Klopp’s side a fright on both occasions. Relive those rollercoaster rides now, in the new-fangled minute-by-minute style!
The rest of your required pre-match reading. Sid Lowe once again sets the scene, this time by telling the tale of the man who charted the Yellow Submarine’s rise from the depths of the regionalised Segunda B to Europa League glory.
Andoni Iraola speaks to Amazon Prime. “We have had two important wins … but we cannot stop … there is a very good team in front of us … it’s the fourth game in ten days … Florian [Wirtz] and Bradley [Barcola] have played every minute [of those games so far] … so we have to be sensible … Alex [Isak] was playing well but he is coming off the back of a massive injury so we have to be considerate … they are ready to go in the second half … [Lewis Koumas] was played well in the first half against Manchester City … Rio [Ngumoha] was really good in the second half against Brentford … the [Villarreal] full backs attack so [Rio] will have to do the job both ways … it is probably difficult to find someone who knows me better [than Iñigo Pérez] … I hope my players can make the difference.”
Liverpool make six changes to their starting XI following the 2-1 win at Brentford. Ryan Gravenberch returns after his Premier League suspension, while Cody Gakpo is back from injury. Kostas Tsimikas, Trey Nyoni, Lewis Koumas and Rio Ngumoha also step up. Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, Bradley Barcola and Milos Kerkez drop to the bench, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Víctor Muñoz are injured.
The teams
Liverpool: Alisson, Araujo, Jacquet, van Dijk, Tsimikas, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Mac Allister, Ngumoha, Koumas, Gakpo.
Subs: Mamardashvili, Woodman, Gomez, Kerkez, Wirtz, Isak, Barcola, Laffey, Chambers, McConnell, Danns.
Villarreal: Gulacsi, Mourino, Navarro, Veiga, Cardona, Saliba, Gueye, Buchanan, Comesana, Moleiro, Mikautadze.
Subs: Junior, Costa, Freeman, Diatta, Gerard, Foyth, Akhomach, Macia, Oluwaseyi, Perez, El Jmili, Gaitan Diaz.
Referee: Szymon Marciniak (Poland).
Preamble
This is a match between Liverpool and Villarreal. One of the top teams in England versus one of the top teams in Spain. The Premier League versus La Liga. The Redmen versus the Yellow Submarine. And yet it’s really none of that. Some things go down to the micro level, as Sid Lowe explains with trademark eloquence in the first part (there will be more, and you will enjoy it) of your required pre-match reading …
Andoni Iraola versus his close compadre Iñigo Pérez kicks off at 8pm BST. Hasi da! It’s on!
#Liverpool #Villarreal #Champions #League #live #Champions #League
