Liverpool beat Villarreal 4-3 at Anfield after a thrilling comeback, maintaining their perfect Champions League start with three wins

Liverpool produced a stunning comeback at Anfield on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Villarreal 4-3 and maintain their perfect start to the UEFA Champions League campaign.

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Villarreal raced into a 2-0 lead inside the opening 30 minutes, with Georges Mikautadze and Sergi Cardona punishing a much-changed Liverpool side.

However, the hosts responded strongly before half-time as Alexis Mac Allister and Ronald Araujo scored to bring Liverpool level.

Mac Allister then completed his brace 25 minutes from time before substitute Florian Wirtz put Liverpool ahead for the first time.

Villarreal pulled another goal back through Tani Oluwaseyi, setting up a tense finish, but Liverpool held on to secure all three points.

The victory moved Liverpool alongside Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Champions League table with nine points from three matches.

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola had rested several of his key attacking players, with Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola among those left on the bench ahead of Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Brighton.

Villarreal immediately took advantage of Liverpool’s weakened attacking line-up and opened the scoring after only four minutes.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk miscued an attempted header back towards goalkeeper Alisson Becker, allowing Mikautadze to collect the loose ball and calmly finish from close range.

Villarreal continued to cause problems and doubled their advantage before the half-hour mark.

Nathan Saliba picked out the advancing Cardona from the left, and the defender guided his effort beyond Alisson to make it 2-0.

The visitors appeared to be in complete control, but Liverpool began their fightback shortly before the interval.

Mac Allister produced a looping header from a Kostas Tsimikas corner to reduce the deficit.

The equaliser arrived soon after, with 18-year-old Rio Ngumoha playing a key role.

Ngumoha delivered a dangerous cross towards the back post, where Cardona failed to track the run of Araujo. The Uruguayan defender rose to head the ball into the net and make it 2-2.

Araujo was then replaced by Wirtz at half-time as Liverpool increased the pressure.

Ngumoha continued to trouble Villarreal with his pace, and his low cross eventually found Mac Allister, who smashed the ball into the underside of the crossbar to give Liverpool a 3-2 lead.

Just three minutes later, Wirtz completed the turnaround.

Cody Gakpo picked out the German midfielder, who finished to score his first goal of the season and give Liverpool a two-goal cushion.

Villarreal refused to surrender, however, and Oluwaseyi reduced the deficit after connecting sweetly with a cross from Ayoze Pérez.

The visitors pushed for another equaliser but Liverpool held firm to claim a dramatic 4-3 victory.

The result leaves Liverpool with three wins from three Champions League matches as they close in on qualification for the last 16.

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Villarreal, meanwhile, remain on three points from their opening three matches.