Premier League frontrunners Liverpool are gearing up to host Aston Villa at Anfield this Saturday. The clash comes on the heels of contrasting European results for both sides. Liverpool crushed Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 in their Champions League encounter, while Villa suffered a narrow 1-0 loss to Club Brugge, thanks to a disputed penalty decision.
Teams in contrasting form
Liverpool's new manager Arne Slot has hit the ground running, notching up 14 wins in his first 16 competitive games - a Premier League record for a new boss. The Reds' domestic form has been equally stellar, with eight victories from their opening ten fixtures, placing them two points clear at the league summit.
Aston Villa, however, find themselves in choppy waters. Manager Unai Emery is experiencing his longest losing streak since taking the helm, with three back-to-back defeats across all competitions. A 4-1 drubbing by Tottenham and their first European setback against Club Brugge have left Villa scrambling to regain their early-season spark.
Team news and predicted lineups
Liverpool's injury woes continue, with Diogo Jota, Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott, and Federico Chiesa all ruled out. On a brighter note, Darwin Nunez is expected to return to the starting XI, while Luis Diaz, fresh off his midweek hat-trick, will likely shift to the left wing.
Villa's squad also faces injury concerns. Ross Barkley and Matty Cash are sidelined, and Tyrone Mings, recently back from an ACL injury, is likely to be rested after his midweek European appearance. Pau Torres is set to partner Diego Carlos in central defence, with Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey probable midfield starters.
Liverpool's predicted lineup: Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz, Nunez.
Aston Villa's predicted lineup: Martinez, Konsa, Torres, Carlos, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, Rogers, McGinn, Ramsey, Watkins.
Historical context and key players to watch
This match marks Liverpool's 100th home game against Aston Villa. The Reds have dominated this fixture historically, winning 62 times compared to Villa's 17 victories. Villa's recent trips to Anfield have been fruitless, managing just one point from their last six league visits. Their last win at this storied venue dates back to September 2014.
Mohamed Salah remains Liverpool's talisman. The Egyptian has been in red-hot form this season, contributing directly to 12 Premier League goals - seven scored and five assisted. He's aiming to score in his fourth consecutive league game, a feat he hasn't achieved since 2021.
Aston Villa's away record against top-ranked teams is dismal. They've lost their last nine matches against sides occupying the top two Premier League spots. Villa's last away win against such opposition was a distant memory - a victory over Leeds United in January 2000, over 24 years ago.