Liverpool faces Villarreal in the Champions League group stages on Tuesday with Andoni Iraola making an intriguing call in dropping three of the Reds' key attacking players while revealing his plans

Andoni Iraola has explained that he is taking a precaution by benching Alexander Isak after the striker sustained a muscle injury while on international duty with Sweden and missed their game against Manchester City.

Isak returned for Liverpool this past weekend, scoring the winning goal against Brentford to continue his impressive start to the season. But after missing around three weeks, the Spanish head coach admitted he does not wish to risk losing Isak further, with Lewis Koumas taking his spot as the number nine on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Bradley Barcola and Florian Wirtz have also been dropped to the bench for the Champions League clash, with Cody Gakpo coming in, and Trey Nyoni is coming in.

Wirtz's performances have improved in recent weeks, despite not having the offensive output he would have liked.

Meanwhile, Barcola scored a hat-trick in their win over LASK in the Champions League last week.

On his decision to drop all three, Iraola told Amazon Prime, "Florian and Bradley played almost every minute, so we have to be sensible.

"Also, with Alex, he started after a muscle injury. He is feeling well, but after three days we have to manage their minutes. They are all ready to go in the second half."

Isak has scored five goals in six Premier League games this season, with Barcola appearing to have won the position as Iraola's first-choice left-winger, ahead of Gakpo, Ngumoha, and Munoz—all having played from the right.

Ngumoha appears to have been given the nod to play from the left, despite impressing on the right in recent weeks, with Gakpo playing in that role.

Koumas has also impressed in recent weeks, seeing his performances against Manchester City and LASK praised, while getting the opportunity with Hugo Ekitike remaining out.

Ekitike is not expected back until January, putting significant pressure on Isak to lead the line, with Koumas as the second-choice striker behind him.

Elsewhere, Alexis Mac Allister looks likely to be playing in a more advanced role with Ryan Gravenberch and Trey Nyoni in the double pivot.

Nyoni also fared well against LASK, with Iraola regularly speaking on his belief in the teenager, who was said to impress throughout preseason.

Liverpool is without Jeremie Frimpong, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Victor Munoz — all believed to be out with minor injuries.