Liverpool predicted XI: Reds looking to seal Champions League qualification in must-win top-five six-pointer | OneFootball

Friday night in Birmingham could prove decisive in the race for Champions League qualification, as Liverpool prepare to face Aston Villa in one of the biggest matches of the Premier League run-in.

With only two games remaining, the pressure is mounting on both sides. Liverpool sit fourth in the table, but only goal difference separates them from fifth-placed Villa.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth are breathing down their necks, sitting just four points behind and still hoping for an opening to gatecrash the top five.

Liverpool arrive at Villa Park after a disappointing 1-1 draw against Chelsea, which put another huge dent in their Champions League qualification hopes.

The Reds have gone through a horrendous title defence so far, failing to maintain the standards that carried them to the title last season.

Liverpool are getting ready to relinquish their crown, but their hopes of playing in the Champions League next season are still in the balance.

While they’re still in a decent position to go through, a late capitulation from Arne Slot’s side could see them drop out of the top five.

Their terrible away form could be their Achilles Heel. The Reds have lost eight of their 18 Premier League games on the road this season.

Those dropped points have made what should have been a comfortable finish to the season far more complicated than expected.

There have been plenty of speculation about Slot’s future considering how this season has turned out, but the club have no plans of making a managerial change this summer.

However, that could change if Liverpool somehow fail to secure a top-five finish from this position.

How Liverpool could line up

Slot could make a couple of changes from the side that failed to dispatch Chelsea at Anfield last time out.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will remain in goal with Alisson still out of the loop, while a back four of Curtis Jones, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, and Milos Kerkez should also remain unchanged.

Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister should continue to anchor the midfield, but there could be changes to the attacking set-up.

Record signing Alexander Isak is poised to return to the starting line-up after his cameo against Chelsea.

The “excellent” striker who has also been described as an “absolute nightmare” has struggled with injuries this season but should return to lead the line against Villa.

The supporting cast will likely feature Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo.