Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Champions must stop the rot – but probably can’t keep visitors out at Anfield | OneFootball

What on earth is going on at Liverpool?

A humbling 3-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday – albeit with a much weakened team – made it six defeats in the last seven for Arne Slot’s champions.

In the Premier League, they’ve lost each of their last four matches after starting the season by collecting the maximum 15 points via five straight wins.

It’s a huge week for under-pressure Slot as Liverpool follow this one with a home tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League before a trip to Manchester City next weekend.

At least the Liverpool boss can look to his opposite number for evidence of how quickly things can turn.

Aston Villa had a head-scratching run of poor form at the start of the campaign, accruing just three points from their first five games, but now Unai Emery’s men have won four straight in the top flight, including last weekend’s 1-0 success against Manchester City.

After trailing Liverpool by 12 points after five matches, the two sides are now locked together on 15.

How to watch Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Liverpool v Aston Villa kicks off at 8pm GMT on Saturday, November 1 at Anfield. The game will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 7pm. TalkSPORT will provide full match commentary.

Liverpool team news

Slot rang the changes in midweek, sending out a reserve team and having no big names on the bench for the visit of Crystal Palace. The decision frustrated many but was made in the context of the next two games: Real Madrid and Manchester City.

With those in mind, he may decide to give Alexander Isak a little more time to recover following his groin injury and start him on the bench here.

That would leave a front three of Cody Gakpo on the left, Hugo Ekitike down the middle and Mo Salah on the right.

In midfield, Ryan Gravenberch is in contention again after sustaining a twisted ankle against Manchester United but Curtis Jones is missing after being taken off at Brentford.

At the back, Jeremie Frimpong is still out with a hamstring injury while the continuing absence of Alisson Becker means Giorgi Mamardashvili starts in goal again.

Liverpool expected line-up

(4-3-3) Mamardashvili; Bradley, van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo.

Aston Villa team news

Villa weren’t in Carabao Cup action in midweek so Emery will want to turn to the side that beat Manchester City.

That will be denied him though after Emiliano Buendia limped off in the first half of that victory. The Argentine could be replaced by Evann Guessand while Ross Barkley, Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen are other options.

Harvey Elliott is unavailable as he cannot feature against his parent club.

Lone striker Ollie Watkins will be desperate to increase his goal output after scoring just once in 13 games for Villa this term.

Aston Villa expected line-up

(4-2-3-1) Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Kamara; McGinn, Rogers, Guessand; Watkins.

Liverpool vs Aston Villa stats

– Liverpool have won six of their last seven Premier League home games against Aston Villa (D1), having been winless against them in four at Anfield before this (D2 L2).

– Aston Villa have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games against Liverpool (D3 L11), a 7-2 victory at Villa Park in October 2020.

– Aston Villa have won just one of their 30 Premier League away games against reigning champions (D5 L24), beating Man Utd 1-0 at Old Trafford in December 2009.

– Liverpool are looking to avoid losing five consecutive league matches for the first time since September 1953 – they are the first side in English top-flight history to win their first five matches in a season but then lose each of their next four.

– While no side is on a longer losing run in the Premier League than Liverpool (4), no side is on a longer winning run than Aston Villa (4).

– Liverpool have lost their last four Premier League matches, with Leicester in 2016-17 the only reigning champions to lose five in a row.

– Liverpool’s opponents have played 571 long passes against them in the Premier League this season, the most any side have faced. That works out as 20.5% of their opponents’ passes coming via long passes, also the highest percentage any side has faced.

Liverpool vs Aston Villa predictions

It’s been fine margins with Liverpool so far. They didn’t deserve to win their first five Premier League matches and, equally, losing the last four hasn’t been warranted either.

Clearly, teams have worked out a way to get at the Reds but Villa certainly aren’t a long-ball side – they’ve attempted the second-fewest of them this season – so, stylistically, these next three games (Villa, Real Madrid, Man City) should be more comfortable for Liverpool.

Take out the madness of their 7-2 hammering in the 2020 season and Liverpool have a strong record against Villa and, despite the visitors’ impressive recent form, this is a good chance for the hosts to get back on track.

And yet, is anyone rushing to back the Reds at 8/13 right now as that’s how they’ve been priced up?

At very similar odds (4/7), Both Teams To Score looks a safer bet while Liverpool backers who want to keep faith in their team may be more attracted to the 19/10 for ‘Liverpool and yes’ in the Match result and both teams to score market.