Aston Villa host Liverpool in an attractive Premier League conflict wherein the winner will clinch Champions League soccer for subsequent season.
Each Villa and Liverpool are coming off disappointing outcomes which have stored them wanting 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 had 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 had 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 towards 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 towards Brentford following the journey to Villa Park, it’s nonetheless not a assure for Arne Slot’s facet.
Away from has been a considerable drawback for Liverpool this season. The Reds have misplaced eight instances on the street, although they might take coronary heart from Villa’s current residence defeat to Tottenham, albeit in a sport wherein 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 at all times 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 got 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 quite a lot of instances, 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’d have certified for the Champions League, we tried to the final second. Individuals may see that extra within the second half, we had been on the entrance foot. The Bar and the publish had been between us profitable it.
“Draw, not the end result we needed however a degree nonetheless. Perhaps one week earlier we had a degree and misplaced it. We go to Villa, an excellent staff this season, we’ve got to attempt to win.”
Crew information for Aston Villa v Liverpool
Villa can 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 observe 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 Major 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 gained simply one among their final 16 Premier League video games towards Liverpool, a 7-2 residence victory in October 2020.
- Liverpool have scored a minimum of twice in 10 of their final 11 Premier League away video games towards 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 a minimum of two objectives away at an opponent within the competitors.
- The Reds, who gained 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 gained 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 gained 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 degree (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 towards Villa (9 objectives, 5 assists), scoring and aiding on this fixture at Villa Park final season.
- Salah may 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 (gained three, drawn one), having gained 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 objective involvements towards Brighton (11) and Newcastle United (9) than he does towards Liverpool (eight – six objectives, two assists).
Prediction for Aston Villa v Liverpool
Whereas Villa can be anticipated to win the Europa League, they gained’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 with the ability to sluggish the hosts down.
Prediction: Aston Villa 3-1 Liverpool
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