Liverpool vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news

Premier League leaders Liverpool host Aston Villa as they look to preserve their spot at the top of the table going into the international break.

Liverpool’s resounding victory during the week over former midfielder Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen saw them climb to the top of the Champions League table with a perfect record in Europe this campaign.

Arne Slot’s players came out unscathed from the Leverkusen game but the Dutchman will still be without Alisson, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa.

Aston Villa lost for the first time in Europe this term after a 1-0 defeat away to Club Brugge. Matty Cash and Ross Barkley are Villa’s only absentees.

Liverpool vs Aston Villa – Match preview and team news

Form

Liverpool: WDWWW

Arne Slot’s successful start to life in Liverpool is showing no signs of slowing down as they secured another triumph on Tuesday night.

Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen and Cody Gakpo netted his fourth in three games to push the Reds up to first place in the Champions League standings.

As it stands, the Reds are two points clear at the top of the Premier League after another three points against Brighton last Saturday. They are also into the last eight of the Carabao Cup.

Liverpool have the best defensive record in the division with their goal having only been breached six times.

Aston Villa: WDLLL

Villa are winless in their last four matches with Unai Emery’s side having encountered a tough spell.

Their narrow defeat at the hands of Club Brugge in midweek was the first time they have dropped points in the Champions League this season and the goal was self-inflicted.

It was a calamitous build-up to the penalty decision as Tyrone Mings picked up the ball with his hands to reposition the goal kick after Emiliano Martinez had passed to the defender.

But the referee showed no mercy as he ruled that the ball was in play, hence making Mings’ action a handball offence and a penalty for Club Brugge which Hans Vanaken dispatched.

It was a third consecutive defeat for The Villans after a heavy defeat at Spurs last weekend and elimination from the Carabao Cup at home to a struggling Crystal Palace side.

Last Meeting: Aston Villa 3-3 Liverpool, Premier League, 13th May 2024

It was a six-goal thriller at Villa Park back in May as Aston Villa and Liverpool played out an enthralling draw.

The drama commenced inside the first two minutes as Emiliano Martinez made a costly mistake which saw the Argentine mishandle Harvey Elliott’s deflected cross into the net.

Villa restored parity ten minutes later when Youri Tielemans smashed the ball past Alisson after Ollie Watkins had got to the byline and teed up the Belgian.

However, Liverpool raced into a 3-1 lead as Cody Gakpo managed to stay just onside to tap in Joe Gomez’s cross and Jarell Quansah headed past Martinez after the interval.

It took late heroics to for Villa to draw themselves level and it came from super sub Jhon Duran. With five minutes remaining of the contest, the Colombian venomously drilled in Villa’s second before sticking a boot out to divert Moussa Diaby’s effort into the net.

There might have been a hint of fortune about the equaliser but regardless of the intention, Liverpool would have to settle for a point.

Predicted Lineups

Liverpool: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsmikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Diaz, Gakpo.

Aston Villa: Martinez; Konsa, Torres, Carlos, Digne; Onana, Tielemans, McGinn; Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.

Who is the referee?

David Coote will be the match official. He will be assisted by Timothy Wood and Craig Taylor while Sam Allison will be the fourth official. The VAR will be Paul Tierney and he will be assisted by Sian Massey-Ellis.

What channel will Liverpool vs Aston Villa be on?

TNT Sports have the rights to Liverpool vs Aston Villa and the game will be shown on TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports Ultimate and Discovery+.

What time is kick-off?

Kick-off at Anfield will be at 20:00 GMT on Saturday 9th November 2024.

Odds

Liverpool – 2/5

Draw – 4/1

Aston Villa – 11/2

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