Liverpool 4–3 Villarreal: Mac Allister Double Completes Anfield Comeback

How did Liverpool come back to beat Villarreal 4–3?

Liverpool recovered through two headers before half-time, then Mac Allister and Florian Wirtz put them ahead after the break. Villarreal still made the finish uncomfortable: Ayoze Pérez hit the post before Tani Oluwaseyi reduced the deficit late on.

Virgil van Dijk’s short header back towards Alisson let Georges Mikautadze score the opener. Sergi Cardona then finished a counter-attack for 2–0. Liverpool’s response started with Mac Allister meeting Kostas Tsimikas’ corner; Ronald Araújo headed in Ngumoha’s cross at the back post to make it 2–2.

Ngumoha created the third with a dribble and cross for Mac Allister, before Wirtz finished from Cody Gakpo’s pass. Those moves gave Liverpool enough of a lead to withstand Oluwaseyi’s late back-post volley. No player was sent off.

The difference was Liverpool’s delivery from wide areas. Ngumoha supplied both Araújo and Mac Allister with chances close to goal, turning possession into finishes that Villarreal couldn’t keep out. At 18 years and 52 days, he became Liverpool’s youngest assist-maker in European competition.

What does the result mean for the league phase?

Liverpool have nine points from three wins; Villarreal have three points from three matches. Liverpool had already beaten Atlético de Madrid 2–1 and LASK 6–3, while Villarreal lost 3–2 at Borussia Dortmund before beating Napoli 3–1.

Liverpool’s perfect points return puts them in a strong position, although conceding seven goals across those three games leaves work to do. Here, the two early concessions and Villarreal’s late chances showed why the attack still had to do so much.

When was Liverpool v Villarreal played?

The match kicked off at 8pm BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026 at Anfield. Amazon Prime Video carried the live broadcast in the United Kingdom. Our Premier League fixtures and European dates page covers the wider schedule.

Why had we questioned Liverpool’s short home price?

Liverpool’s 2–1 win at Brentford on 17 October needed context: they came back against ten men. Yehor Yarmoliuk went off before half-time, while Vitaly Janelt’s second yellow came in added time, after Liverpool had scored twice.

Víctor Muñoz scored after breaking down the right and cutting inside; Alexander Isak finished after Bradley Barcola headed back Mac Allister’s delivery. Those were different ways through a defence, but the extra player helped. Our preview questioned how much that afternoon justified Liverpool’s short home price. At Anfield, the home win arrived through another comeback.

How did the LASK and Elche results fit the game?

Liverpool’s 6–3 win at LASK had made goals the main interest in our preview. The Villarreal match produced another seven, with Liverpool again scoring enough to overcome three concessions.

Villarreal’s 0–0 draw with Elche on 17 October had been the counterargument. They had created chances after changing nine starters from the Napoli win; only Alberto Moleiro and Santi Comesaña kept their places. Their finishing at Anfield was much sharper. The opening half-hour showed why treating that goalless draw as evidence of a harmless attack would have been a mistake.

Who started, and what changed at half-time?

Ngumoha, Lewis Koumas and Gakpo started for Liverpool, with Wirtz and Isak initially on the bench. Andoni Iraola sent Wirtz on for Araújo at half-time, and the substitute went on to score Liverpool’s fourth.

Liverpool’s starting XI was Alisson; Araújo, Jérémy Jacquet, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Ryan Gravenberch, Trey Nyoni, Mac Allister; Ngumoha, Koumas and Gakpo. Isak replaced Koumas after 66 minutes. That confirmed selection matters to our assessment because the preview had left its goals angle dependent on the teams.

Liverpool v Villarreal: post-match questions

Liverpool won 4–3 after a 2–2 first half. These are the main points from the result and our preview’s goals angle.

Who scored for Liverpool against Villarreal?

Alexis Mac Allister scored in the 36th and 65th minutes, Ronald Araújo equalised at 45+2 and Florian Wirtz scored Liverpool’s fourth in the 69th minute. Liverpool won 4–3 at Anfield on 20 October 2026; the result was checked that evening.

Did the over 3.5 goals angle come through?

Yes. Liverpool and Villarreal scored seven goals on 20 October 2026, passing the four-goal threshold before half-time. Our preview had discussed over 3.5 at 11/10, dependent on the confirmed teams. It hadn’t recorded a placed bet or stake.

How many Champions League points do Liverpool have?

Liverpool have nine points after three league-phase matches, checked on 20 October 2026. They beat Atlético de Madrid, LASK and Villarreal in their opening games. The 4–3 victory at Anfield kept that winning start intact; Villarreal remained on three points.

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Sources: LFC report, UEFA report, LFC record, UEFA results, LFC TV, Brentford report, Villarreal report.

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