Liverpool are back in Champions League action on Tuesday when they look to maintain their 100% start to the competition with the visit of Villarreal
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.
Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola.(Image: Kate McShane/Getty Images)
Liverpool return to Champions League action on Tuesday as they bid to preserve their perfect record in the competition with Villarreal heading to Anfield.
The Reds have already been informed of their available squad for the encounter against a side they have overcome in both of their previous European meetings.
Liverpool have been dealt two fresh injury blows, with both Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong forced off during Saturday's Premier League victory at Brentford.
Szoboszlai has aggravated a previous hamstring complaint and looks set to be sidelined for a number of matches, while Frimpong is not anticipated to return until after the November international break following a muscle injury.
There are also concerns surrounding Victor Munoz, who was absent from Monday's training session after picking up a knock on Saturday, despite being able to play on at the time and going on to net the equaliser.
A further three Liverpool players will definitely be unavailable for the fixture as they continue their rehabilitation from long-term injuries, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Forward Hugo Ekitike faces a battle to feature again this calendar year, having sustained a serious Achilles injury in early April, while right-back Conor Bradley remains on the road to recovery from the major knee damage he suffered at Arsenal in early January.
Center-back Giovanni Leoni is moving closer to rejoining first-team training after being sidelined since last September with an ACL injury, though his comeback isn't anticipated until the November international break.
Andoni Iraola, Manager of Liverpool, reacts as he speaks to the media during a Liverpool Press Conference at Anfield
A few Liverpool stars missed training for the Champions League clash with Villarreal(Image: (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images))
Meanwhile, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa are both unavailable for selection, having been omitted from Liverpool's Champions League squad for the league stage.
Speaking ahead of the game, Andoni 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. But it’s going to be difficult, I think, before the [November international] break. We will try but it’s going to be difficult to have him.
“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.
“But it’s not like something now where he has to wait a lot of time to come back, he is more or less in the same situation he was last week.
“But we need more patience with him, but I appreciate the effort he did the other day, to be available, to want to contribute in a very difficult game that you know is going to be very physical – [against] one of the most physical teams, Brentford.
“And to put himself in front and to want to play speaks very well about him, yes.”