Arne Slot could make three changes – Predicted Liverpool XI v Aston Villa

Fresh off a commanding 4-0 victory over Bundesliga holders Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, Liverpool host Aston Villa in the Premier League.

The Reds are leading the way in Europe and the Premier League, with Arne Slot masterminding one of the best start to a season in the club’s history.

Luis Diaz stole the show against Leverkusen, helping Slot teach Xabi Alonso a harsh footballing lesson with a sublime hat-trick.

He’ll be hoping to repeat that performance in front of the Kop when the Reds take on Villa at Anfield this weekend.

The Villans are going through a rough patch, going four games without a win, including three consecutive defeats against Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur and Club Brugge.

Their defensive woes were exposed in the shocking defeat to Brugge in the Champions League, and it plays into the hands of Liverpool, who have been lethal in the final third this season.

They’ve won their last six games at Anfield in all competitions and scored at least twice in each match.

Slot is expected to make a few changes to the team that handed Leverkusen a beating.

With Alisson still sidelined, Caoimhin Kelleher will retain his place in the XI behind a defensive wall of Andrew Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch have established a dynamic relationship in the middle of the park and should continue protecting the back four.

Curtis Jones produced a solid performance in the Champions League, but he could drop to the bench in favour of Dominik Szoboszlai.

Diaz’s performance in the Champions League should be enough for him to start, with Cody Gakpo potentially dropping to the bench despite also getting on the score sheet in midweek.

Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah will be keen to do damage on the right flank, while Darwin Nunez is expected to lead the line.

Predicted Liverpool Starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Kelleher; Robertson, Van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Diaz, Szoboszlai, Salah; Nunez.