Up to nine Liverpool players are set to be unavailable for the Champions League match against Villarreal at Anfield, following a triple injury blow in the Premier League win over Brentford. Victor Munoz is the main doubt, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong also sustained issues during the game.
Injury concerns from Brentford win
Dominik Szoboszlai and Jeremie Frimpong both had to be substituted by Andoni Iraola before the hour mark. Szoboszlai aggravated the hamstring problem that had kept him out of matches against LASK and Manchester City. Frimpong, however, sustained a new muscle issue minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
Victor Munoz was also withdrawn and did not train on Monday. Joe Gomez replaced the goalscorer late on as part of a double change that also saw Alexander Isak replaced by Lewis Koumas. However, it is the Spain international who remains a doubt for the fixture against familiar foes from his time at Osasuna in La Liga.
Villarreal and Liverpool team news
Villarreal have more positive injury news heading into this match, with Tajon Buchanan returning to training. The winger had missed their last three matches with a hamstring problem. Nicolas Pepe, however, remains sidelined after having scheduled eye surgery earlier this month. The former Arsenal forward has not featured at all since the international break.
Liverpool also welcome Ryan Gravenberch back into their squad. He missed Saturday's game while serving a one-match suspension for being sent off against Man City. The midfielder's return will help make up for Wataru Endo's ineligibility to play Champions League matches. There was a place on the bench for him against Brentford. Federico Chiesa is also unavailable for the same reason because both players were not registered in Liverpool's squad for this season's league phase. However, the winger was not in Saturday's squad a week on from his late cameo as a substitute against Man City after recovering from injury.
Long-term absentees
Liverpool also still have three long-term absentees who have yet to play at all this season. Giovanni Leoni appears to be the closest to returning, albeit after his return to training was pushed back to the November international break. Conor Bradley is also close to joining his team-mates again in training, although Iraola has stressed that this would not represent a return to full training. The full-back seems more likely to play first of the three, barring any setbacks. Hugo Ekitike completes the trio. Iraola says the forward is doing well, but is a little bit behind Bradley, as planned.
