Liverpool

There are nine games in the Champions League on Tuesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Fenerbahce v Slavia Prague (17:45)

• Sabah v Borussia Dortmund (17:45)

• Liverpool v Villarreal

• Manchester City v AEK Athens

• Napoli v Bodo/Glimt

• Paris St-Germain v Barcelona

• Porto v PSV Eindhoven

• Roma v Slovan Bratislava

• Stuttgart v Atletico Madrid

Kick-off times 20:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Watch highlights of every Champions League game from 22:00 on Wednesday on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app.

There will also be a Champions League Match of the Day on BBC One from 22:40 to 00:00 on Wednesday.

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We asked for your views on whether Liverpool should look to make Ronald Araujo's loan move permanent after his impressive start to life at Anfield.

Here are some of your comments:

Sue: I would much rather Liverpool pay £47M for Araujo, than pay over £72M (more than double the amount we sold him for, which does not make any business sense at all) to bring Quansah, who is not as good, back to us. Signing Araujo will also give Iraola the option of resting Van Dijk because Araujo and Jacquet together are solid defensively and have played very well since arriving in the summer.

Max: I like Araujo and he's settled in well so far. However, I would like to see Quansah back as Virgil's long-term successor. If Virgil stays, bring back Quansah only, but if Virgil decides to end his Liverpool career, we surely must consider both Araujo and Quansah for strength and depth in defence.

Ben: From what he has shown so far keeping Araujo should be a must, especially as he can play right-back, a position Liverpool struggle to cover at the moment with constant injuries to Frimpong. We don't want to be in another Guehi-style situation where we miss out and later regret it.

Mike: Araujo is a no-brainer. Van Dijk is a shadow of his former self this season, while Gomez is too injury prone and needs to move on. We are then left only with youngsters and injury-prone right-backs. Araujo ticks all the boxes. I would bring in Quansah also for depth across the backline.

Connor: It's too early to say we should keep him, especially at that fee, but he's done really well and if he's a positive influence in the dressing room too, we should definitely try to sort something out at a price that's more aligned with his age.

Mark: With the amount of injury concerns we have in defence, £47m seems like a reasonable amount for excellent cover. Plus, sadly, Virg won't be here forever...

Nick: Sign him tomorrow. He's been the standout of the incoming players.

Jonah: He's done great but it's only 10 games in so let's see how he does for the full season and if he plays when Conor Bradley is back. I'd sooner spend the money on a proper six as we haven't had one since Fabinho.

Rio Ngumoha should be able to state his terms on a new contract.

That's the view of The Red Kop's Chris Coughlin as the panel on this week's BBC Radio Merseyside show consider the winger's impact in the win at Brentford.

Take in a clip of Coughlin, Paul Salt and Mike Hughes discussing Ngumoha above.

Listen to the full episode of The Red Kop on BBC Sounds here

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The sight of defender Ronald Araujo in Liverpool's starting line-up is becoming the norm this season.

Since arriving on a season-long loan from Barcelona, Araujo has started eight of Liverpool's 10 games under Andoni Iraola, with six of those appearances coming at right-back and four at centre-back.

With Conor Bradley out since January with a knee injury and Jeremie Frimpong now sidelined until the November international break with a muscle injury, Araujo is seizing the chance to showcase the versatility and experience that attracted Liverpool to him.

At Barca last season, Araujo was granted a leave of absence to prioritise his mental health and the summer move felt like one that suited all parties - even if he was initially seen as a stopgap solution for Liverpool

He took a wage cut and Liverpool have an option to buy him in the summer for £47m.

It is a hefty sum and remains an unlikely outcome, but the understanding for now is that Araujo is just happy to show his qualities to everyone once again.

With Virgil van Dijk, 35, and 29-year-old Joe Gomez's contracts expiring next summer, Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward will have some important decisions to make.

When everyone is fit, Liverpool are well-stocked in the centre-back department and the way 21-year-old Jeremy Jacquet has settled in since moving from Rennes in the summer is proof that if you are good enough, you are old enough.

Alongside Van Dijk, Gomez and Jacquet, 19-year-old Giovanni Leoni will offer another option once fit. Leoni is hoping to return next month from an ACL injury he sustained on his debut in September 2025.

Liverpool also have an option to buy back Jarell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen this summer so are not short of options.

The likes of 18-year-olds Ifeanyi Ndukwe, who is on loan at Levante, and Mor Talla Ndiaye are names for the future too.

Liverpool did not initially plan to bring in Araujo this summer, but given their injury crisis were forced to act and his abilities have largely benefited Iraola this season.

Continue impressing, and both Iraola and Ward may be left with a decision to make.

What do you think will happen with Araujo? Should Liverpool keep him beyond this season?

Send us your views here

Read more on Araujo's impact at Anfield

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola says it will be a "special game" against his former team-mate and close friend, Inigo Perez, when Liverpool welcome Villarreal to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday (20.00 BST).

Perez, 38, manages the Spanish side and was Iraola's assistant at Rayo Vallecano in the 2022-23 season. Iraola then tried to bring him to Bournemouth in 2023 but Perez was denied by an unsuccessful work permit application.

"We've known each other since the academy years at Athletic Club, we played with each other in the first team, and as soon as he retired I was quick enough to grab him to help me as an assistant," Iraola said.

"It is not good for relationships when these things (playing each other) happen. I talk to him a lot, but when you know you are going to face each other you stop talking because you kind of leave some distance.

"So, lately, it's probably a moment when we've talked less. We normally call time to time to talk about La Liga, the Premier League, about football, about other stuff, our families, but now when the game gets closer we haven't been in touch."

Perez had to apply to the Home Office for permission to work in England as the United Kingdom had already left the European Union.

That permission was not granted and then in 2024, he became the manager at Rayo Vallecano and led them to the Conference League final last season, eventually losing to Crystal Palace. In the summer, he moved to Villarreal.

Iraola added: "We tried to take him to England, he was here but he couldn't work because he didn't receive the work permit. We tried to do everything to convince, I think there is a panel who decides if you are good enough, but they considered he was not good enough to be an assistant coach.

"I complained in that moment but it has worked very well for him also because he could take Rayo Vallecano, he's done very well and now he is coaching in the Champions League with Villarreal and I am so, so happy for him.

"He knows me very well, he knows everything, but also it is a team I follow, I know the players and it is going to be little bit strange, yes, but in a good way."

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool aren't exactly under pressure, but things are not hunky-dory.

Before Brentford's Yehor Yarmoliuk was sent off on Saturday, the Bees were leading and it looked likely to stay that way.

Important Reds are sidelined by injury. This is partly through bad luck but also partly the result of poor planning. With the club spending far too much on too few players, the squad has been left dangerously thin and it shows. It might not be as skeletal as Everton's, but it is still under-resourced, especially with a Champions League campaign to be fought.

The moment of the match for Liverpool, and maybe the most pivotal single moment of the weekend alongside Noni Madueke's goal for Arsenal, was that sending off.

Yarmoliuk had to go because the rules demand it, though I am pretty sure Jeremy Jacquet was not nearly as badly injured as he affected. It was all a sad outcome, particularly when considering the incident leading up to it.

Jacquet was winding Yarmoliuk up and had deliberately stuck his shoulder into the Brentford defender's face seconds before the headbutting reaction. Had Yarmoliuk gone down first, perhaps feigning a terrible injury of his own, the referee might have sent Jacquet off.

The Bees will have felt cheated, though it was gross naivety alongside bad luck. The Brentford man was nudged towards the Frenchman from behind at just the wrong moment.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

Liverpool and Manchester United are among several Premier League clubs interested in Borussia Dortmund's Germany midfielder Felix Nmecha, with Liverpool viewing the £84m-rated 26-year-old as an alternative to Bournemouth's England international Alex Scott, 23. (Teamtalk), external

England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold is considering his future at Real Madrid after growing frustrated with his lack of playing time, with former club Liverpool among a host of teams monitoring the 28-year-old's situation. (Teamtalk), external

Rio Ngumoha has distanced himself from a possible move to Arsenal and the 18-year-old England winger says talks over a contract extension at Liverpool are "going well". (Metro), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola spoke positively about Ronald Araujo and how his arrival at Anfield came about as a result of Liverpool's defensive shortages after their pre-season tour this summer.

With Iraola confirming it will be "difficult" to see Jeremie Frimpong in action before the November international break because of a new injury, the decision to bring Araujo in looks like one that will continue to serve Liverpool well.

The 27-year-old Uruguay international has started eight of the Reds' 10 games this season and played primarily at right-back.

As for Dominik Szoboszlai, there will be some relief among Liverpool fans that he has not suffered a new injury, but Iraola will know they must be careful with one of their most important players.

With important Premier League games coming up against Brighton and Arsenal over the next fortnight, Liverpool will hope to have the Hungarian back sooner rather than later.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool defender Ronald Araujo believes it is "very early" to talk about a permanent move to Anfield, but says he will "give absolutely everything" for the shirt this season.

The 27-year-old, who joined Liverpool on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy in August, has already made 10 appearances - scoring one goal and contributing one assist.

"I knew how big the club was but when I got here I saw how gigantic it is in terms of dimension, structure and fan support," Araujo said in a news conference before Tuesday's Champions League game against Villarreal at Anfield.

"I'm very happy that I've been welcomed in as just another player, not just by the people at the club but also by the fans. I'm very grateful to everyone and I want to give back by giving everything always.

"It is too early to talk about these things [signing permanently]. I'm just trying to enjoy every day here. I want to grow, develop and play. I'm really happy to be here."

On Andoni Iraola asking him to fill in at right-back, Araujo said: "It isn't a problem for me because I've already played that position a few times.

"When I made my decision to come here, I knew it was a possibility that I would need to play at right-back, so it's not something new to me.

"Ultimately, I just try to give everything regardless of the position I find myself in, and I try to give my very best to whatever a manager asks of me."

Having reached the Champions League quarter-finals with Barcelona in 2023–24, Araujo is keen to "compete for all titles this season".

"I really do believe we have a great side here," the Uruguayan added. "We have a team of great players with great potential. The Champions League is a very difficult competition and the knockout games are decided by fine details, but I believe we can compete.

"We know it is a very long season but we are on the right path. We are progressing as a side and we also have the potential to grow."

Aadam Patel
Liverpool reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool defender Jeremie Frimpong is set to be out until the November international break with a muscle injury, while midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai will miss Tuesday's Champions League game against Villarreal with a recurrence of the injury that kept him out of matches against Manchester City and LASK.

The pair were both forced off during Liverpool's win at Brentford on Saturday.

"Frimpong has a new muscle injury. It's difficult to predict [when he will return]," said Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.

"We will have to wait until he recovers but it is going to be difficult before the break. We will try, but it is going to be difficult to have him.

"Szoboszlai is different - it is not a new injury. I think it is in the same place it was in the past week. It hasn't worsened, but probably we have to be a bit patient until he recovers fully. It is not like he has to wait a long time to come back - it is more or less the same situation he was in this past week.

"I appreciate what he did the other day, to be available, want to contribute in a very difficult game [against Brentford] that you know is going to be very physical. To put himself in front and want to play, speaks very well."

Millie Sian
BBC Sport journalist

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Champions League game against Villarreal at Anfield (kick-off 20:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong "weren't brought back too soon" from their respective injuries, despite the former being forced off after 32 minutes and the latter being substituted seven minutes after coming on against Brentford.

• He explained: "It is two different circumstances. Dominik Szoboszlai isn't suffering with a new injury. We will probably just have to be a bit more patient with him until he recovers fully. He won't be out for a long time, he hasn't worsened his injury. Jeremie Frimpong has picked up a new muscle injury. It will be hard to get him back before the international break, but we will try."

• On Florian Wirtz becoming the first player to create nine or more chances from open play in a Premier League match for over five years in the win at Brentford: "He came into the last match off the back of two very good games. He helped the team a lot, in and out of possession. I hope we can keep him at this level." However, Iraola highlighted that people seem to "over-analyse and over-scrutinise" the Germany international, who has "done well" this season.

• Ronald Araujo "has proven he is ready to help the team" after joining Liverpool on a season-long loan deal with an option to buy in August. The centre-back's ability to fill in at right-back also shows he is "ready for anything" the team needs.

• The intention is to field the "best starting XI possible" against Villarreal, but that might not be the team "everyone is thinking" because "some players aren't fresh enough".

• On his first 10 competitive matches as Reds manager: "I haven't even had time to think about it. I've seen a little bit of everything so far, but I don't have time to reflect a lot during the season. It is about learning through the process and adapting to the situation right now. All we are trying to do is learn and improve every day."

• He added: "You learn by going through difficulties. Until you're under the pressure of having to try Victor Munoz in a position he hasn't played before or playing with 10 men, you don't have the knowledge about each other. These things show the character of the players."

• Liverpool will need to play how they did against Atletico Madrid to beat Villarreal. He knows the La Liga club "very well" and anticipates "a very demanding game" at Anfield.

• Andoni Iraola will be going up against his friend and former assistant coach Inigo Perez on Tuesday. The pair have known each other since their "academy years at Athletic Club" and have "been through a lot of things together". Iraola added: "It is a privilege for me to face him in a Champions League game. He knows me very well, but also his team is one that I follow. It is going to be a little bit strange, in a good way."

All the key lines from Monday's Champions League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Another edition of BBC Radio Merseyside's The Red Kop is available now on BBC Sounds, as journalists covering Liverpool dissect the talking points.

Liverpool came back to beat Brentford 2-1 on Saturday to make it back-to-back away wins.

Paul Salt, Chris Coughlin and match commentator Mike Hughes discuss the importance of Alexis Mac Allister, Rio Ngumoha and a potential new deal, plus Andoni Iraola's subs coming good.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Liverpool content on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brentford and Liverpool.

Here are some of your comments:

Brentford fans

Cliff: Brentford were the better team when it was 11 versus 11. First sending off cost us the game. I can't believe Liverpool had three £100m-plus players, but yet they we're so ordinary.

Graham: Unfortunately, I feel we are losing our discipline in games. I appreciate that these days you only have to breathe on somebody to get a booking, but that's the way it is. Why is it that it seems to be the same players every game?

Peter: Why was the crowd clapping Yehor Yarmolyuk off? We were in control of the game. Keith Andrews should not play him for the next three games after his red card ban. It might concentrate his mind. Such a stupid way to lose our unbeaten record.

Nigel: Very proud of the Bees. They kept attacking right until the 96th minute. Although we lost for the first time this season, I don't feel too upset after that performance.

Liverpool fans

Rae: So much potential but often so disjointed. Jeremy Jacquet is immense already and Florian Wirtz was creative, yet inconsistent. Alexander Isak becoming the player every one knows. Midfield, though, is still lightweight and needs a proper number six.

Sam: It always looked like we were going to lose this game, even against nine men and being a goal up. The complacency of the guys upfront and the loose passes throughout was shocking! I'm surprised we were able to get a win out of it and we're lucky we did.

Adam: Forget the beautiful game, what we lacked last year was that battling spirit and the ability to fight physical teams, so it was great to see so much of that across the pitch. Made up for Wirtz. Give the lad some credit.

Robbie: A bit of a laboured performance. Physical teams like Brentford don't suit Wirtz - another quiet game. Disappointed to see two more injuries. The plus side is that Victor Munoz and Rio Ngumoha are looking good and another solid display from Alexis Mac Allister. All in all, it was a hard-earned three points, but there are some hard games ahead. Liverpool must improve.

Liverpool might have staged a comeback against Brentford but former Reds midfielder Danny Murphy feels Andoni Iraola's side have been "too easy to play through" this season.

Previously unbeaten Brentford paid a heavy price Yehor Yarmoliuk's red card in first-half added time for a "headbutting action" on Jeremy Jacquet, with Victor Munoz and Alexander Isak finding the net eight minutes apart in the second half.

Liverpool dominated in attack at Gtech Community Stadium, with an expected xG of 1.51 compared to Brentford's 0.85, but they have now conceded eight goals in seven league games.

Speaking on Match of the Day, Murphy said: "Liverpool are too easy to play through, they really are. They are disorganised in the press and I'm not sure whether that is down to the change in personnel or if they just need more time.

"It was just consistently happening in the first half - and these Premier League sides will hurt you.

"Although Liverpool show moments when they go forward, they are conceding far too many chances to be competitive at the top of the table at the minute."

Catch up on Match of the Day here

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Florian Wirtz was instrumental as Liverpool returned to winning ways in the Premier League at Brentford on Saturday, but does the German playmaker remain boss Andoni Iraola's greatest conundrum?

The visitors produced plenty of chances, particularly with their man advantage in the second half when they registered 14 of their total 21 attempts.

Wirtz was at the heart of things in the final third.

The Germany international created more chances from open play (nine) than any other player has managed in a Premier League game over the past six seasons.

Despite answering his critics with those standout statistics, the impact of his playing style on the dynamic of the team continues to come under scrutiny.

BBC Sport pundit and former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes a midfield which features Wirtz as the number 10 remains a problem as it makes Iraola's side too easy to play against.

"They got the job done. First and foremost, that's another win on the road, which is always positive," Murphy said of Liverpool's performance.

"But I thought they looked too easy to play against.
The spaces are too big.

"They're playing with two wingers and Wirtz at 10, so they're relying heavily on the two midfield players to try and cover so much space.

"It was too easy for Brentford to play out and to get in behind. That would be the biggest concern today for me."

Liverpool stage comeback to win at

Wirtz's strengths are clear.

Following his latest performance, no player has created more chances in the Premier League this season. He is level with Brighton's Pascal Gross on 18.

He played in Munoz to begin Liverpool's fightback, meaning Wirtz has assisted in back-to-back games for Liverpool across all competitions for the first time - although this was only his second goal involvement in seven league games this term.

He was at the heart of Liverpool's attack, with a match-leading 12 final-third entries and 37 passes in the final third.

Read more on Wirtz's performance against Brentford here

Bournemouth could ask for more than £100m for English midfielder Alex Scott, 23, who is attracting interest from Chelsea and Liverpool. (Football Insider), external

Barcelona are facing competition from Real Madrid for Stuttgart defender Finn Jeltsch, 20, with Liverpool also showing interest in the German youngster. (Sport - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, speaking to Sky Sports: "There was a lot of things happening during the game. The first half more or less was quite level, we had the clear chance.

"They scored before the end and second half we need the comeback. I think we played really well until the 2-1. After that we started to protect something, I think we didn't manage the last minutes well.

"I think some of the players were seeing quite clear chances to finish the game that we haven't been able to finish. We lacked some composure on the ball. Sometimes it was just about keeping the ball more and not going for the goal with the first chance."

On the penalty and red card: "Two decisions, I need to see them, both of them. I think the penalty is probably not a penalty."

On Jeremie Frimpong: He finished cramping the other day in the Champions League so we knew he wouldn't start the game. We were playing against 10 and I thought he was going to give us more going forwards, but he felt straight away something in the muscle."

On Dominik Szoboszlai: "He has tried, he has trained the last days, but we didn't know the minutes he'd have. It's not another injury, he's still not healed."

Liverpool striker Alexander Isak, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Very hard. It's not an easy place to come to. It's a tough game and a physical type of game to play, which makes it even more satisfying.

"Being a difficult game and us being down 1-0, it shows character to turn it around. We hung in there and pushed for the victory.

"I think everyone has some team where they do extra well against. I've had a good record against Brentford. Happy about that."

On bouncing back from the Man City defeat: "That's always the challenge, to bounce back and get back to winning ways. Now it's just about keeping this spirit and getting a winning streak."

Did you know?

• Liverpool have won a Premier League away game after conceding first for the first time since December 2023 against Crystal Palace (2-1), ending a run of 19 without a win when going 1-0 behind on the road (D7 L12).

• Florian Wirtz is the first player to create nine or more chances from open play in a Premier League game since Sadio Mane against Burnley in January 2021 (9), also for Liverpool, and first in an away match since Samir Nasri for Manchester City vs Spurs in August 2011 (10).

Listen to more match reaction from Rio Ngumoha below or on BBC Sounds here