Liverpool – Villarreal

Liverpool head into the Anfield clash sitting seventh with six points from four games – a win and three draws and a healthy +2 goal difference (6‑4). Their opponents, Villarreal, languish in 18th place, having collected just two points from two draws and two defeats, and sit on a –2 goal margin after conceding eight while scoring six. The Spaniards will need to tighten up at the back if they hope to escape the relegation zone, while Liverpool will look to convert their solid defensive record into a winning result. A positive outcome for Liverpool could see them close the gap to the European spots, whereas a slip‑up would allow Villarreal’s survival hopes to slip further away.