Liverpool host Villarreal on 20 October 2026 in matchday three of the Champions League league phase, with kickoff at 21.00 Spanish peninsular time. The fixture brings together two coaches who have known each other since their playing days at Athletic Club: Liverpool's Andoni Iraola, 44, and Villarreal's Iñigo Pérez. Villarreal have not won away in European competition since December 2023. In Spain the match is due to be shown live on M+ Liga de Campeones 3 via Movistar Plus+ and Orange TV.
Iraola says the two came through the Athletic Club academy together and later played for its first team. When Pérez retired in 2022 after a spell at Osasuna, Iraola brought him in as his assistant at Rayo Vallecano. Pérez then followed Iraola's plan to join Bournemouth, but a work permit was refused and the move collapsed. Pérez went on to take charge of Rayo Vallecano himself and led the club to the Conference League final last season.
Iraola admitted that contact between the two has dwindled as the fixture approached. Calls and messages that were once routine have stopped, a pattern the New York Times also reported. Iraola described the match as a privilege and said the friendship would not change how either side plays.
“It's a privilege to face Inigo in a Champions League game.”
Liverpool have beaten Atlético de Madrid 2-1 and won a high-scoring match against LASK in Europe this season. Their only defeat of the season so far came in a 0-3 Premier League loss to Manchester City. Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both left a recent league match with physical problems, and the club has said they will be out for a time. Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni are already sidelined for longer periods.
Villarreal arrive after a 0-0 draw with Elche in LaLiga, which halted the momentum of their 3-1 comeback win over Napoli. That Napoli victory ended a long run without a European win and gave the club its first points of this Champions League edition. Villarreal are without Tajon Buchanan, who has a muscle injury, and Nicolas Pépé, who has an eye problem. The visitors have also been held without a goal in their last match, which underlines their need to improve in attack.
Villarreal have never scored at Anfield, and this will be their third visit to the ground in their history. They lost 3-0 there in the 2016 Europa League and 2-0 in the first leg of the 2022 Champions League semi-final. In the last two seasons only PSG and PSV have won at Anfield, according to Europa Press. Pérez said the club views the fixture as a source of pride, and that it should be approached with courage.
“It is a source of pride for the club to play this team again, in this stadium and in the Champions League.”
Pérez expects few tactical surprises because both coaches have full access to data on each other's teams. He pointed to Borussia Dortmund as the closest match in atmosphere and style, and expects Liverpool to press from the first minute. Villarreal do not plan to change their approach, Pérez said, because altering their rhythm could cost them their own balance. Iraola said the two men know each other well enough that neither will hide their intentions. The match will be decided on the pitch at 21.00 Spanish time on 20 October.
Pollar is free and carries no ads in the text. Its members keep it going.
Support PollarFootball · Liverpool and Villarreal
Liverpool host Villarreal at Anfield on 20 October 2026, with kickoff at 21.00 Spanish peninsular time in matchday three of the Champions League league phase. The match pits two coaches who have known each other since their Athletic Club playing days against one another.
AI text based on reports by La Razón, Irish Independent, ABC TU DIARIO EN ESPAÑOL and other publishers. Published .