Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI to take on Villarreal in the Champions League with Andoni Iraola making decisions on Alexander Isak and Rio Ngumoha at Anfield

Liverpool has confirmed its starting XI to take on Villarreal in the Champions League, with Rio Ngumoha and Cody Gakpo starting but Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Bradley Barcola on the bench.

Alisson Becker is in goal, with Ronald Araujo playing right-back in the absence of Jeremie Frimpong. Jeremy Jacquet and Virgil van Dijk are at center-back, with Kostas Tsimikas at left-back after Andoni Iraola hinted that he would make changes to his side to freshen things up amid a hectic fixture schedule.

Ryan Gravenberch and Trey Nyoni are the midfield duo, with Alexis Mac Allister in front. Gakpo is joined in attack by Ngumoha and Lewis Koumas. Wirtz, Isak and Barcola get a rest, while Victor Munoz misses out.

Liverpool has already picked up six points from six in the Champions League so far, beating Atletico Madrid at home and then LASK away. It will also take on Fenerbahce, Club Brugge, Porto, Inter and Lens in the group phase.

"We arrive into this game on the back of two hard-fought wins away to LASK and Brentford, and it is important that we do everything we can to maintain that forward momentum this evening," club captain Van Dijk writes in the official matchday program.

"Having done a lot of traveling in the last week, our next four games are all at home and we need to use that to our advantage if we can.

"Anfield is always a special place to play, and especially on Champions League nights such as this.

"The atmosphere will be amazing and hopefully we can give you all something to cheer and smile about.

"Saturday’s victory at Brentford, like I say, was extremely hard-fought and extremely important, even more so given the disappointment of the Manchester City game the previous week.

"We know that it is a very difficult place to go for any team, and the fact that we were able to come through a tough first half and come away with the three points was very pleasing. We showed character and we deserved what we got.

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"I believe you can see there, and in Austria a few days before that, the steps that this team is making.

"We are not perfect, by any means, but we are all working extremely hard to become a team that is hard to beat, which sticks together and which can compete and get results on a consistent basis.

"That is what is expected of you when you play for Liverpool, and everyone inside the dressing room understands that, I can assure you. The quality and the potential are there within this group of players, for sure, and it is up to us now to deliver."

Liverpool starting XI: Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Nyoni; Ngumoha, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Koumas.