Liverpool go into Liverpool vs Villarreal with six points from six in the Champions League, and that is the cleanest starting point for this preview. They are fifth in the league phase table, they beat LASK Linz 6-3 on October 14, and they have won six of their last eight fixtures in all competitions.
Liverpool's early control
The home side have also won three of their last five matches and lost only once in that run. Liverpool's league-phase position is not an accident of one good night either, because they have three wins in their last four meetings with Villarreal and have already shown they can score heavily in this competition.
That run fits the view of Sports Mole's analyst, who said Liverpool "have improved considerably as the season has progressed, and they will come into their game at Anfield full of confidence."
Villarreal's away record
Villarreal still have enough recent form to keep this awkward. They beat Napoli 3-1 on October 13, sit 14th in the league phase table on three points, and have proven difficult to beat in recent weeks, according to the same preview.
The problem is their travel record. Villarreal have won only one of their six away fixtures, which is the clearest reason to back Liverpool at home. Even so, Sports Mole's analyst warned that Reds fans should not expect a straightforward encounter, and that feels fair enough. Dominik Szoboszlai and the rest of Liverpool's attack should have enough to control the night, but Villarreal's form means Anfield still needs to earn the result on 20 October.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
