Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Date: 02/11/2019
K/O: 15.00
Venue: Villa Park
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Aston Villa host Liverpool on Saturday afternoon in what could turn out to be a tricky test for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The hosts have had the misfortune of playing Manchester City last week and Liverpool this week in two games that any positive result would be outstanding.
Villa have lost just one at home all season, against Bournemouth back in August, and if they can match the steely determination they displayed against Manchester City at the Etihad last weekend, it is possible this will not be the foregone conclusion of an emphatic victory for the Reds.
Liverpool and Villa come into this fixture having played on Wednesday night in the Carabao Cup and with both sides advancing (in slightly contrasting circumstances), they have in fact been drawn against each other in the quarter-finals.
With Liverpool’s sites set firmly on ending their league title drought, this will be their main priority, while Villa know they have a strong chance of playing a weakened side in the quarter-finals and potentially progressing into the last four of the competition.
While Villa manager Dean Smith fielded a host of first-teamers in their midweek victory over Wolves, all of Liverpool’s starting XI from their hard-fought victory over Tottenham Hotspur were given the night off, watching from the stands as the club’s youngsters pulled off a remarkable win via a penalty shootout against Arsenal.
The games come thick and fast for Liverpool over the next two months, and with the exception of November’s international break, Klopp will have to rotate his squad as his side play twice a week every week until January. The Merseysiders’ first-teamers will have to take every bit of rest they can get if they are to maintain their gap over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.
While the hosts sit in 15th, the last four weeks have seen an upturn in form for the West Midlands club, and with the backing of their vociferous home support behind them, Villa Park is not an easy side for any team to go, as the likes of Everton and Brighton have discovered already this season.
An early goal could change everything, although Liverpool’s powers of recovery and the never-say-die attitude that Klopp has instilled in his players mean that it is never over when Liverpool are involved. This could be a very tight affair at the start, before Liverpool’s class and fresh legs will likely shine through in the latter stages.
Team News
Villa captain and fan favourite Jack Grealish is an injury doubt, but could well return after getting a slight knock on his calf last time out against Manchester City. Keinan Davis picked up an injury in midweek and is unlikely to feature.
Liverpool were hit with their own bad news this week when it was announced that one of their players of the season, Joel Matip, will be out until December with a knee injury. Dejan Lovren is expected to deputise. Naby Keita limped off in midweek, although was unlikely to start anyway.
On a brighter note, Mo Salah, who looked to have picked up a reoccurrence of his ankle injury against Spurs last weekend, is expected to start for the Reds. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain further pressed his claims for a return to the starting XI after scoring another exceptional goal in midweek.
Predicted Starting XIs
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett; El Ghazi, Nakamba, McGinn, Luiz, Grealish; Wesley
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane
Match Prediction: Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool
Given Liverpool’s shaky defensive record of late, expect Villa to at least cause the visitors problems at the back and get on the scoresheet. However, with the entirety of Liverpool’s likely starting XI having been rested midweek, expect them to come out firing in this one and continue their unbeaten start to the season with another win on Saturday afternoon.
