Aston Villa host Liverpool in an attractive Premier League conflict by which the winner will clinch Champions League soccer for subsequent season.
Each Villa and Liverpool are coming off disappointing outcomes which have stored them trying over their shoulders at sixth-placed Bournemouth within the race for the highest 5. The Cherries sit 4 factors behind fourth-placed Liverpool and fifth-placed Villa however don’t play once more till they host Manchester Metropolis on Tuesday.
Liverpool have been booed off at Anfield after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea, whereas Villa’s exertions in reaching the Europa League remaining appeared to meet up with them as they have been held to a 2-2 draw by relegated Burnley.
Villa are favourites to beat Freiburg within the Europa League remaining in Istanbul subsequent Wednesday, which might safe a spot within the Champions League.
However Unai Emery will wish to have a spot in Europe’s elite competitors sewn up earlier than that showpiece, and victory in opposition to Liverpool would take away the nightmare situation of Villa struggling a shock loss to Freiburg within the remaining earlier than having to go to Metropolis on the ultimate day with their Champions League spot nonetheless in jeopardy.
Champions League qualification is the one factor Liverpool can salvage from a desperately disappointing marketing campaign however, with a tough residence sport in opposition to Brentford following the journey to Villa Park, it’s nonetheless not a assure for Arne Slot’s facet.
Away from has been a considerable downside for Liverpool this season. The Reds have misplaced eight occasions on the street, although they might take coronary heart from Villa’s current residence defeat to Tottenham, albeit in a sport by which Emery shuffled his pack considerably.
“[Away form is] one of many causes we’re right here, [we’ve] dropped too many factors,” Slot advised his pre-match press convention.
“Dropping factors in away video games occurs primarily after Europe in video games the place Liverpool are normally in a position to win. Villa away is all the time tough however we’ve dropped factors in away video games the place we normally don’t. That is likely one of the causes we’ve not certified but for the Champions League.
“The primary problem is to be fitter and extra able to play each three days subsequent season. We’ve had various occasions, a great spell after 70-80 minutes however that goes hand in hand with dropped factors in late phases of the sport.
“We needed to beat Chelsea, we might have certified for the Champions League, we tried to the final second. Individuals might see that extra within the second half, we have been on the entrance foot. The Bar and the put up have been between us profitable it.
“Draw, not the consequence we needed however a degree nonetheless. Perhaps one week earlier we had a degree and misplaced it. We go to Villa, an excellent group this season, we’ve to attempt to win.”
Workforce information for Aston Villa v Liverpool
Villa will probably be with out Boubacar Kamara (knee), Amadou Onana (calf) and Alysson (groin).
For Liverpool, Mohamed Salah will return after lacking the final two video games with a muscle damage.
Florian Wirtz is a doubt due to a abdomen an infection, however Ibrahima Konate is match to play regardless of being taken off within the draw with Chelsea.
Predicted line-ups for Aston Villa v Liverpool
Aston Villa: Martinez; Money, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Lindelof, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Buendia; Watkins.
Liverpool: Mamardashvili; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Isak.
The place to look at Aston Villa v Liverpool: TV and on-line streams
Aston Villa v Liverpool kicks off at 8:00pm. It is going to be broadcast on Sky Sports activities Primary Occasion and Sky Sports activities Premier League. It is going to be accessible to stream through Sky Go.
Stats for Aston Villa v Liverpool
- Villa have received simply one in all their final 16 Premier League video games in opposition to Liverpool, a 7-2 residence victory in October 2020.
- Liverpool have scored no less than twice in 10 of their final 11 Premier League away video games in opposition to Villa – together with the final eight in a row. Solely Metropolis (11 at Fulham) and Manchester United (9 at West Bromwich Albion) have had longer runs of scoring no less than two objectives away at an opponent within the competitors.
- The Reds, who received the reverse fixture at Anfield 2-0 in November, final did the league double over Villa in 2021-22, whereas they final did so with out conceding in 1995-96.
- Liverpool have received 10 of their final 11 Premier League video games on a Friday since a 4-2 defeat at Arsenal in April 2004.
- However Liverpool haven’t received their remaining away league match in any of the final three seasons (drawn two, misplaced one), with these video games seeing 19 objectives scored in whole (4-4 v Southampton, 3-3 v Villa, 2-3 v Brighton & Hove Albion).
- Every of the final two Premier League conferences between the golf equipment at Villa Park have ended stage (3-3 in 2023-24 and 2-2 in 2024-25).
- Salah has had a hand in 14 objectives throughout his final 12 Premier League video games in opposition to Villa (9 objectives, 5 assists), scoring and helping on this fixture at Villa Park final season.
- Salah might make his remaining away look within the Premier League. With 83 objectives and 47 assists (130 mixed), simply three gamers have been concerned in additional objectives on the street within the league’s historical past: Wayne Rooney (139), Ryan Giggs (137) and Harry Kane (135).
- Villa have misplaced 4 of their final eight residence Premier League matches (received three, drawn one), having received eight on the bounce beforehand.
- Ollie Watkins has been concerned in 12 objectives in his final 13 appearances in all competitions (9 objectives, three assists).
- Watkins solely has extra Premier League purpose involvements in opposition to Brighton (11) and Newcastle United (9) than he does in opposition to Liverpool (eight – six objectives, two assists).
Prediction for Aston Villa v Liverpool
Whereas Villa will probably be anticipated to win the Europa League, they received’t wish to take their foot off the gasoline of their quest to clinch Champions League qualification by sealing a spot within the high 5. With Liverpool’s accidents and their continued defensive points, it’s tough to see the Reds having the ability to sluggish the hosts down.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Liverpool
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