Villarreal is 12th in La Liga with two wins, three draws, and four losses, recently drawing 0-0 with Elche. In the Champions League, they lost 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund but secured their first points by defeating Napoli 3-1. Pape Gueye and Georges Mikautadze lead the team with three goals each, while Santiago Mourino has scored in European matches. Santi Comesana has covered the most distance in the Champions League. Goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi, 36, was a Liverpool player from 2008 to 2013 but made no competitive appearances. Coach Inigo Perez, appointed this summer, previously guided Rayo Vallecano to the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League final, where they lost to Crystal Palace. Perez, a former teammate and assistant to Andoni Iraola at Athletic Club and Rayo respectively, will now face Iraola in the Champions League. Liverpool has a strong historical record against Villarreal, having won both their 2016 Europa League and 2022 Champions League semi-final ties.