Great noise from the travelling AEK fans on a very dismal night in Manchester.

It's the first time the Greek side are playing in England for more than 40 years, when they faced Nottingham Forest.

A first appearance for Cody Gakpo since a nasty-looking ankle injury during the international break.

Andoni Iraola will be delighted it was nothing serious.

Daniel Sturridge
Former Liverpool striker on Amazon Prime

Football is about momentum and I think that's what players live off, too. That confidence, feeling good, feeling like everybody knows their jobs, and it's cohesive.

I think ultimately football is a results business, so if they continue to win, then the players are listening even more, clinging onto the manager's words. The belief is going to grow.

Away we go at Anfield, the Etihad Stadium and across Europe.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on Amazon Prime

From what I have seen of him, he doesn't have any fear, and I think that's the big thing.

This is a huge stadium, and a huge football club, so to come out and represent at this level, he must have some belief in his own ability and I hope we can see that again.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephen Warnock
Former Liverpool defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

There is a huge trust in the youth players. You wouldn't play them if you didn't think they were capable of performing in these games.

That is what you're looking for as a manager - can I trust this player to carry out the game plan? Can I trust them?

The one thing Ngumoha and Koumas have got in their favour is that you don't often blood young players as defenders because if they make a mistake, then often it can lead to something, whereas if you make a mistake as a forward player, it's less of an issue so they get away with it a little bit more.

Nyoni is being trusted in that holding role and many feel he is capable of playing in that position but I think the big thing is you have to be tested at the highest level, Champions League is the highest level probably not Villarreal, they're not the highest level of opposition that Liverpool will face in the Champions League this year but there is that physical side that I just think he needs to get better [at]. But he's a very intelligent footballer.

Here come the teams. It's almost go time.

Manchester City

Man City boss Enzo Maresca, speaking before the game: "That game is gone [PSG], focus on tonight's game. We know it's going to be a tough game like all the Champions League and Premier League games so we need our best to win this game."

On Erling Haaland being on the bench: "No injuries, just to manage a little bit of minutes. Also, from the last game, we had some small problems so it's just a mix of different things."

On Samba and Allan: "They are both very young but they are both very good players. Many things to improve but again we trust them and hopefully they can help us win the game."

On making changes: "The idea is to put the best eleven to win the game always. It's our business to try to win games. The idea is not just to rotate or recovery it is just to win the game. We made some changes but hopefully we can win the game."

On their opponents tonight: "It's always tough, Champions League competition. Again, we need our best to win the game."

Jonty Colman
BBC Sport Journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Paris St-Germain v Barcelona - a fixture that could prove to be the most exciting in this season's Champions League.

The free-scoring teams start match week three as the league phase's top two, with PSG above Barcelona on goals scored and with no other sides having netted more in the competition so far.

PSG were 2-1 winners when they met at this stage last season, with Luis Enrique's side going on to win a second successive Champions League title, having also beaten Barcelona over two legs in the quarter-finals three seasons ago.

"It will be a fascinating game," European football expert Julien Laurens told BBC Sport's Euro Leagues podcast.

Since the start of the 2025 Club World Cup, Barca and PSG rank second and third respectively for most goals scored per match by clubs in Europe's top five leagues.

Barca have netted 192 times in 68 games at a rate of 2.82 per match, with PSG scoring 154 in 67 games at 2.3 per outing.

Only Bayern Munich rank above both.

Here's your 10-minute klaxon.

Cups of tea at the ready!

Alan Shearer
Former England striker on Amazon Prime

Brilliant that [Lewis Koumas] got his goal last time out.

He knows that if it weren't for injuries or the manager looking towards the weekend, he might not be in the team. It's hugely important that once given your opportunity, you take it. I was really impressed with him against Man City, the way that he ran them, got in behind.

He was unlucky with the chance that he had, got his shot away really early, but as I said, if you get that chance tonight, you've got to take it.

Image source, Getty Images

It has been a busy week for Manchester City defender Marc Guehi.

The 26-year-old has played every minute of every game for City since the international break - Liverpool, PSG and Ipswich.

Tonight, though, he will get a bit of a rest as he is on the bench. But the England man doesn't mind the packed schedule.

"It's been enjoyable, to be honest, not to train and to play games," Guehi said.

"A lot of meetings and reviewing clips inside. When we can we go on the pitch to go through tactics before the game, but it is a lot of recovery and sleep to make sure the body is right for the next game."

When asked if he is "learning on the job" because of the lack of training, he said: "The clips we go through [are] things we can do better. For example, in the last game [against Ipswich], I know I can do better. It's as much learning as you can do on the pitch or off the field with the clips we're watching. We try to do it in the small amount of time we have.

"There is work we can do as a team because there are things that can happen before [goals], but when I look at those goals at the weekend, that is down to me. That's for me to look at and try to put right in the next game.

"It's not a strain. I am grateful to be fit and healthy. It's not easy to be healthy at this level with all the games."

Image source, Getty Images

In the early games, Borussia Dortmund gained their second win in three Champions League games with a 2-1 victory over Sabah in Azerbaijan.

Serhou Guirassy scored twice for the Germans, either side of a goal from Aden McCarthy.

In the other match, Fenerbahce scored twice in the opening 11 minutes, through Oguz Aydin and ex-Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, but it was not enough as Slavia Prague fought back to clinch a 2-2 draw.

Lukas Provod got Slavia's first before Pavel Kacor scored a 90th-minute equaliser. Fenerbahce now have two points and Slavia one, with both already facing a tough task to make the top 24.

The Villarreal fans are certainly up for it at Anfield tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool

Liverpool manager Andoni Irola, speaking before the game: “Obviously, I think we are going from two important wins for us, but we cannot stop, and it doesn’t stop. This is another big game, the Champions League with a very good team in front of us, and I hope we are at the level of the game.”

On the six changes from the weekend: “Different circumstances. It’s their fourth game in 10 days, and always Florian [Wirtz] and Bradley [Barcola] have played almost every minute, so I think we have to be sensible, and also with Alex [Isak], who had a massive injury. He was feeling well, but to play again in less than three days. I think we have to be considerate and manage the minutes a little bit. But they are all ready to go in the second half.”

On Lewis Koumas: “I think he is doing really well otherwise, we wouldn’t trust him to start this game, and I hope he continues doing what he’s doing, which is helping the team a lot. Being vertical, attacking the box, and finishing chances. I think he played well against Man City starting and I hope today is another one of those games.”

On Rio Ngumoha: “I think of Rio very highly. He was very good in the other half against Brentford, and also in the Champions League last game, and I hope he can have a good performance. I think [Villarreal] full-backs are attacking so he’ll have to do the job both ways, but I think he’s in a good place.”

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter at Anfield

In Austria last week, Andoni Iraola made four changes so it's no surprise to see him make six tonight. The fixtures are coming thick and fast and Iraola will have one eye on Sunday when high-flying Brighton come to Anfield.

"We are in a really tough period of the season with the schedule testing everyone. Our job is to deal with this reality as best we possibly can,"Iraola writes in his programme notes.

For now, the focus is on ensuring Liverpool carry on their 100 per cent start to their Champions League campaign. If need be, Liverpool have around £400m worth of talent on the bench.

A small pocket of Villarreal fans have made the trip over from Spain. It has been raining all day in Liverpool but the followers of the "Yellow Submarine" will be hoping to have something to sing about later.

Shamoon Hafez
Football reporter at Etihad Stadium

The thousands of fans that have travelled over from Athens are making a great noise in their corner of Etihad Stadium.

Decked out in yellow and black, the AEK supporters are belting out their full catalogue of chants.

Deafening whistles pierce around as the Manchester City goalkeepers come out to warm up.

Quite a reception, quite an atmosphere already.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sounds

BBC Radio 5 Live will be bringing you around-the-grounds updates from across the Champions League and EFL tonight.

On the move or busy at home? Listen live on this page, the BBC Sounds app or ask your smart speaker to ‘play 5 Live’.

New this season: live football commentaries, coverage and podcasts are now in one place on BBC Sounds.

Liverpool have won 15 of their last 16 Champions League home games in the group/league phase, with the only exception being a 4-1 defeat to PSV in November 2025.

Image source, Getty Images