One Liverpool forward was notably absent from footage showing the first-team squad arriving at their hotel ahead of their Champions League meeting with Villarreal, raising fresh questions about his availability for the game.
Liverpool have made a perfect start to their league-phase campaign, beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Anfield before securing an impressive 6-3 victory over LASK away from home. Another win would give the Reds nine points from their opening three matches.
The encounter also brings Andoni Iraola face-to-face with Inigo Perez, Villarreal’s current manager, who previously worked as Iraola’s assistant at Rayo Vallecano. Liverpool will also be looking to maintain their strong record against the Spanish side, having eliminated them in the 2016 Europa League and 2022 Champions League semi-finals.
However, team selection remains a major concern for Iraola, with Victor Munoz emerging as a doubt following a knee problem sustained during Saturday’s 2-1 Premier League victory over Brentford.
Munoz scored Liverpool’s equaliser in the 62nd minute after connecting with a through ball from Florian Wirtz.
He subsequently moved to right-back following Jeremie Frimpong’s substitution, with Brentford already reduced to 10 men. Alexander Isak later sealed the victory with a goal eight minutes after Munoz’s equaliser.
The Liverpool forward required treatment twice during the match, with reports indicating that his right knee was the source of the problem. Despite the discomfort, he continued playing with strapping around the affected area.
Concerns increased when Munoz failed to appear at Liverpool’s open training session at the AXA Training Centre on Monday evening. He was later spotted wearing a knee brace, adding further uncertainty over his fitness.
The situation attracted more attention on Tuesday after footage shared by ElliotFMedia on TikTok showed 23 Liverpool players arriving at the Titanic Hotel, where the squad gathers ahead of home fixtures. Munoz was not seen among the players captured in the video.
However, his absence from the footage does not automatically mean he will miss the Villarreal encounter, as he could have arrived before filming started or after it ended. Liverpool have yet to provide official confirmation regarding his availability.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Monday, Iraola praised Munoz for his attitude and adaptability. He described the forward as “a player with hunger” and highlighted his willingness to fill in at right-back when required. Munoz joined Liverpool from Osasuna during the summer and has made nine appearances for the club.
Liverpool are already dealing with several injury problems ahead of the European fixture. Iraola confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong would miss the game after picking up injuries against Brentford.
Frimpong has suffered another muscle problem, with Iraola admitting that a return before the November international break could prove difficult. Szoboszlai, meanwhile, has experienced a recurrence of an earlier injury.
Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Hugo Ekitike are also sidelined, further limiting Liverpool’s available options.
There is, however, some positive news regarding Cody Gakpo. The forward remained on the bench against Brentford after recovering from an injury, but Iraola expects him to feature in the Champions League clash against Villarreal.
