Paris Saint-Germain came from behind to defeat Barcelona 4-2 in a Champions League thriller on Tuesday, handing the Catalans their first defeat of the season.
At Anfield, an error-strewn start by Van Dijk was responsible, and also in keeping with a ponderous opening half hour from Liverpool in which Villarreal passed their way around the ground with style and precious little resistance.
Villarreal doubled their lead with a goal that encapsulated the start made by both teams as the visitors passed their way through Liverpool’s midfield and picked holes in their high defensive line, with the home side slow to react.
The Liverpool head coach must have been sorely tempted to shake things up more, such was the paucity of his team’s first half display, but his half-time switch and demands sufficed.
Cardona’s defending was much less impressive as Liverpool, stung more by their own performance than the groans of the Anfield crowd, clawed their way back into the contest before half-time.
It had rained incessantly in Liverpool all day yet the Villarreal head coach opted for a short-sleeved polo shirt on the touchline.
The rotation resulted in a second successive Champions League start for Trey Nyoni and Ryan Gravenberch shifting forward into Wirtz’s number ten role.
Elsewhere, Andoni Iraola and Iñigo Pérez parked their long and close friendship in the buildup to the Champions League duel between two old Athletic Bilbao teammates.