Liverpool's strong start in the revamped Champions League could give Andoni Iraola the chance to rest key players if they beat Villarreal on Tuesday night. Victories against Atletico Madrid and LASK have put the Reds in a strong early position, and another win against the La Liga side at Anfield would likely allow Iraola to use more of his squad going forward.
Home Games Ahead
After the Villarreal match, Liverpool face Porto and Lens at Anfield, games they would expect to win. Tuesday's game is seen as massively important to ease pressure in the coming weeks as fixtures pile up.
The new Champions League format lets managers rotate more than before, and European teams now tend to play more openly rather than sitting back. The Atletico game last month was an open match with two good sides attacking each other.
Qualification Priority
Having beaten LASK in Austria, the Villarreal game is ideal for taking another big step towards qualification. Finishing in the top eight is what matters, not the exact position, as shown by Liverpool finishing top in the first year of the new format yet still facing Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to win the Champions League.
With injuries piling up, Iraola could give players like Virgil van Dijk a night off if Liverpool are in a strong position after the Villarreal game. The manager showed against LASK that strengthening the side's Champions League position allows him to keep big players in reserve for Premier League matches.
