Anfield will host a reunion with Rayo Vallecano roots when Liverpool meet Villarreal tomorrow, with Andoni Iraola preparing his side for a demanding Spanish test and a rare encounter with Iñigo Pérez, his former assistant.
Key takeaways
- Iraola and Iñigo Pérez worked together at Rayo Vallecano during the 2022/23 season.
- The Liverpool coach expects the reunion to feel unusual, but described it as a positive occasion.
- Liverpool could alter their starting line-up after the physical effort required against Brentford.
- Ronald Araújo identified Villarreal as one of LaLiga’s strongest possession teams.
- The Uruguay international wants Liverpool to impose themselves from the opening whistle at Anfield.
A familiar face across the dugout
Iraola brought Pérez onto his Rayo Vallecano staff immediately after the former midfielder ended his playing career, and the pair shared a season in Madrid in 2022/23. Their paths now cross on Merseyside, where Pérez arrives with Villarreal.
The Liverpool manager said their working relationship had remained close away from the touchline. “We have experienced a great deal together, so it is a privilege to see him again,” Iraola said. “He knows me, while I follow his team and know their players. It will be strange, though in a good way.”
The two have regularly spoken about football and family, but Iraola said those conversations have naturally paused as the match has approached.
His attention is fixed on ensuring Liverpool reproduce the level they showed against Atlético. Villarreal’s qualities are well known to him, but selection may be influenced by the condition of players after the recent meeting with Brentford.
“I am considering the strongest team for Villarreal, although it may not be the one people expect,” Iraola said. “Some players are not fresh enough. Brentford was a very intense game, and everyone who starts tomorrow must be fully ready.”
Araújo expects Villarreal to keep the ball
Araújo also arrives at the fixture with considerable experience of Villarreal from his Barcelona years. The defender has faced the Castellón club repeatedly and expects a side comfortable controlling matches through possession.
He placed Villarreal just behind Barcelona in LaLiga’s possession rankings, viewing that as a reflection of the technical level within their squad. Yet he believes Liverpool must make their home setting count rather than become absorbed by the visitors’ strengths.
“I know Villarreal well and have played against them many times,” Araújo said. “After Barcelona, they are the LaLiga side with the most possession, which tells you about the players they have. But we are at Anfield and we have our own identity. We need to give everything from the first minute and take control of the game. If we do that, we can win.”
