Liverpool are expected to restore Ryan Gravenberch to midfield against Villarreal on Tuesday, while Cody Gakpo is available to return after injury. Andoni Iraola must also reshape his options following fresh setbacks for Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong during the weekend victory at Brentford.
The Champions League match at Anfield kicks off at 8pm BST on October 20. Liverpool have won their opening two league-phase fixtures, against Atletico Madrid and LASK, but the immediate selection question concerns how much continuity Iraola can preserve without overloading players returning from injury.
Despite some of the reporting describing the team news as confirmed, the available accounts do not establish an officially announced starting XI. The distinction matters particularly for Gakpo, Alexander Isak and the right-back position.
Gravenberch return changes the midfield calculation
Gravenberch missed the Brentford match through suspension rather than injury and is expected to partner Alexis Mac Allister. His availability gives Liverpool a straightforward route back to a senior midfield pairing after Szoboszlai’s attempted comeback ended early.
According to reports, Szoboszlai had missed two games with a hamstring problem before starting at Brentford, where he was withdrawn after 32 minutes. Trey Nyoni replaced him, but Gravenberch is the anticipated selection against Villarreal.
There is a meaningful difference between the accounts of Szoboszlai’s prognosis. One report groups him with Frimpong as facing several weeks out; another says Iraola considers the midfielder’s problem less serious, while confirming a longer absence for Frimpong. Both are reported unavailable for Tuesday, but a shared recovery timetable should not be assumed.
Tactically, Gravenberch’s return should allow Liverpool to change personnel without abandoning the expected two-player midfield base. That could be important if Florian Wirtz continues behind the striker: Liverpool can retain a central attacking connection rather than asking the players further forward to compensate for an unfamiliar partnership behind them.
Gakpo involvement does not settle Isak’s workload
Gakpo was an unused substitute against Brentford after recovering from injury, and reports say Iraola expects him to participate against Villarreal. Whether that means starting is less certain. The projected teams place him on the flank instead of Victor Muñoz, alongside Wirtz and Bradley Barcola behind Isak.
The more significant disagreement concerns the centre-forward. Two versions of the lineup report select Isak, whereas another preview suggests Liverpool may avoid starting him so soon after his own return. He scored the winner in the 2-1 victory at Brentford, but that contribution does not by itself establish readiness for another start.
This creates two separate decisions for Iraola: whether Gakpo can begin the match, and how many minutes Isak should play. Treating both as automatic starters would overlook the workload uncertainty highlighted by the reporting. Ngumoha and Koumas offer alternatives, although their availability is not evidence that either will be selected.
Right-back remains the defensive pressure point
Frimpong’s absence, combined with Conor Bradley’s continuing recovery from a long-term knee problem, leaves Liverpool short of their reported options at right-back. Ronald Araujo is the leading candidate, with Joe Gomez also mentioned as a possibility.
Araujo’s appearance at the pre-match press conference and his 45-minute outing at Brentford support the expectation that he will start, but neither amounts to confirmation. Elsewhere, the projected defence contains Virgil van Dijk, Jacquet and Milos Kerkez, with Kostas Tsimikas a possible alternative on the left.
The working selection is therefore Alisson in goal; Araujo and Kerkez at full-back around Van Dijk and Jacquet; Gravenberch alongside Mac Allister; and Gakpo, Wirtz and Barcola supporting Isak. That remains a forecast, with the striker’s workload the clearest unresolved issue.
Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike are also reported unavailable through injury. Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa are absent from Liverpool’s Champions League squad, making their exclusion a registration matter rather than an additional fitness concern.
Villarreal offer a test beyond the selection sheet
Villarreal are expected to restore several players rested against Elche, including their usual defensive quartet. Liverpool should therefore prepare for a refreshed opponent rather than assume the visitors’ weekend lineup will carry over. Villarreal have also scored five times across their opening two European fixtures.
The Liverpool vs Villarreal prediction assigns Liverpool a 90% win probability, with 8% for a draw and 2% for an away victory. Its confidence rating is 50%, however, so the emphatic outcome split should not be mistaken for certainty.
Liverpool’s selection challenge is consequently about balance, not simply finding eleven available players: restoring midfield stability, retaining attacking quality and avoiding another disrupted comeback.