Liverpool host Villarreal at Anfield on October 20 in Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League League Stage. It is early in the campaign, and both sides are still establishing their form. Liverpool, managed by Andoni Iraola, are listed fifth in the league positions provided. Villarreal, led by Inigo Perez, are listed 14th.

The clearest storyline is how differently the two teams arrive. Liverpool won 6-3 at Lask Linz on October 14 in League Stage Matchday 2, a result that showed their attacking output. Three days earlier, on October 11, they lost 0-3 at home to Manchester City in the Premier League. Villarreal beat Napoli 3-1 at home on October 13 in the same competition. Before that, on October 10, they lost 1-0 away at Real Madrid in La Liga. Both teams have won their most recent European fixture and lost their most recent domestic league match.

The second factor is how each side scores and concedes. Liverpool have scored ten goals and conceded seven across their last five matches in all competitions. Villarreal have also scored ten, but have conceded six, and they have conceded exactly one goal in four of those five games. Liverpool's 6-3 win in Austria shows their attacking threat but also that they can concede several goals in a single match.

Neither club has reported any unavailable players, so both managers should have full squads to choose from. Iraola has options across midfield and attack, including Florian Wirtz, Bradley Barcola, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. Villarreal's squad also includes Gerard Moreno, Georges Mikautadze and Alberto Moleiro.

The head-to-head record favours Liverpool, who won three of the four meetings listed. Villarreal's one win came on April 28, 2016. This should be a contest between Liverpool's attacking depth at home and a Villarreal side that has been consistent