Liverpool Face Villarreal as Iraola and Perez Renew Long Friendship

Liverpool host Villarreal at Anfield on Tuesday night in the Champions League league phase, with injuries sidelining Jeremie Frimpong and Dominik Szoboszlai. The October 20 fixture also brings Villarreal manager Inigo Perez face to face with Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola, a longtime friend and former teammate whose shared football journey began at Athletic Bilbao.

According to Liverpool's team news published October 19, the match kicks off at 8 p.m. BST. Liverpool enter the third league-phase round after winning their opening two European matches, including a victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield, while Villarreal recently beat Napoli 3-1 in the competition.

Frimpong could remain unavailable until after the November international break, while Szoboszlai is recovering from a recurrence of an existing injury. Ryan Gravenberch returns to selection after serving a one-match Premier League suspension, but Conor Bradley, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni remain sidelined.

Federico Chiesa and Wataru Endo are not included in Liverpool's Champions League league-phase squad. Villarreal received a boost Monday when Tajon Buchanan returned to training after missing three matches with a hamstring injury. Nicolas Pepe has also missed his team's last three games because of an eye problem.

Iraola described the two Liverpool absences as different medical situations, explaining that Frimpong had sustained a new muscle injury early in his appearance against Brentford. The Liverpool manager also said Szoboszlai's condition had not worsened, although the midfielder needed more time before returning fully.

Discussing Frimpong's recovery, Iraola said:

"Jeremie Frimpong is obviously a new muscle injury and it happened, I think, in the second or third minute he was playing, difficult to predict and we will have to wait until he recovers."

He indicated that the defender's return before the international break would be difficult, although the club would continue trying to make it possible. Szoboszlai's situation was less severe, with the midfielder experiencing a recurrence in the same area as his previous injury.

On the midfielder's recovery and commitment against Brentford, Iraola said:

"Dom Szoboszlai is different. It's not a new injury, I think it's in the same place it was probably last week. He hasn't worsened the injury but probably we have to be a little bit more patient until he recovers fully."

Iraola added that Szoboszlai remained in broadly the same condition as the previous week rather than facing a lengthy new absence. He praised the player's willingness to contribute in Liverpool's physically demanding 2-1 victory over Brentford on October 17.

Reflecting on the midfielder's decision to make himself available, Iraola said:

"And to put himself in front and to want to play speaks very well about him, yes."

The reunion between Iraola and Perez carries a history stretching back to 2002, when Perez joined Athletic Bilbao's academy at age 14. Iraola, then 19 and approaching his senior debut, became a close friend and footballing influence. They eventually played together in the first team in October 2009 and shared an interest in coaching tactics and player development.

Perez's route into management diverged from Iraola's after he was refused a work permit to join the coaching staff at Bournemouth. The decision prevented him from continuing alongside his friend in England and eventually contributed to a separate managerial path that brought him to Villarreal.

Perez described the prospect of facing Iraola as an emotional moment but emphasized the professional demands of the fixture. Speaking about their relationship and the upcoming meeting, he said:

"I'm looking forward to seeing him; we speak continuously, always there," Perez said. "To encounter each other pitchside is emotional. When the referee blows, it all ends, but it's a very nice story."

Perez also stressed that Villarreal should approach the occasion with confidence despite the challenge of playing at Anfield. The club's manager framed the match as an important occasion for his team rather than a reason for apprehension.

"I think we have to approach it from the perspective that it's a source of pride for the club to face this team again in this stadium and in the Champions League," Perez said. "I think that's the way to approach it: without fear, with courage."

Their shared background includes years at Athletic Bilbao, where teammates recalled both coaches for their intelligence, tactical curiosity and ability to understand players. Their final match together came in October 2013. Iraola retired in 2016 and began coaching two years later, while Perez moved toward management after ending his playing career.

Liverpool's most recent match was a 2-1 Premier League win over Brentford on October 17, while Villarreal drew 0-0 with Elche on the same day. Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi previously belonged to Liverpool from 2008 to 2013, spending time on the bench 51 times without making a competitive appearance for the club.