Liverpool face a defining moment at Anfield on Saturday evening when they welcome an in-form Aston Villa side in what promises to be one of the weekend’s most compelling Premier League encounters. The match carries huge significance for both teams, as Liverpool risk losing five consecutive league games for the first time in their history, while Aston Villa chase a fifth straight Premier League victory at the home of the reigning champions.
For a brief moment, it seemed Liverpool had rediscovered their spark with an emphatic 5-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League, but that result now looks like a false dawn. Their domestic struggles have continued, with disappointing defeats to Brentford in the league and Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup deepening the sense of crisis surrounding Arne Slot’s side.
lthough the midweek cup loss came with a heavily rotated squad filled with youngsters and fringe players, the manner of the defeat raised further questions about the team’s direction and confidence.
Slot’s decision to prioritize upcoming fixtures over cup progression has not gone unnoticed, and pressure is beginning to build on the Dutchman. With crucial matches against Aston Villa and Real Madrid looming, the reigning Premier League-winning manager knows that a failure to turn things around could have serious consequences.
Liverpool sit seventh in the table, seven points adrift of leaders Arsenal, and are on the brink of a historic low. The last time the club lost five straight top-flight matches was way back in 1953, a statistic they will be desperate to avoid repeating.
Although Liverpool have lost just one of their last six league games at Anfield, their current form paints a troubling picture. They are in the midst of the worst ongoing run in the Premier League, while their visitors arrive full of confidence and momentum. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa are enjoying their best spell of the season, having won four consecutive league matches against Fulham, Burnley, Tottenham, and Manchester City.
The victory over City was particularly impressive, with Matty Cash scoring the decisive goal in a disciplined 1-0 triumph that showcased Villa’s growing maturity and belief.
Villa’s recent European setback, a surprise defeat to Go Ahead Eagles in the Europa League, can be dismissed given Emery’s decision to rest key players. In the Premier League, however, his side have been outstanding. After failing to score in their opening four matches of the campaign, they have now found the net in nine consecutive league outings and sit just below Liverpool in the standings on goal difference.
History, though, is not on Villa’s side. They have lost each of their last eleven league matches away to the reigning champions and have managed only one win in their last thirty such encounters — a memorable 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2009. Their record at Anfield is similarly bleak, with no victories in their last seven visits. The last time they triumphed there was in September 2014, when Gabby Agbonlahor’s early strike secured a famous win.
Still, with Liverpool struggling for form and confidence, and Aston Villa riding a wave of momentum, Saturday’s contest could be the perfect stage for Emery’s men to break their Anfield hoodoo and make a powerful statement in the Premier League race.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Liverpool fans were offered a small piece of good news following Wednesday’s defeat to Crystal Palace, as Arne Slot confirmed that Ryan Gravenberch has a strong chance of recovering from his ankle injury in time for the weekend clash with Aston Villa.
However, the outlook is far less positive for Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones, with Slot suggesting that both players have only the slimmest chance of returning. Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong remain sidelined with hamstring issues, while Giovanni Leoni is out with a long-term ACL injury, ruling all three out of both this game and the upcoming Champions League meeting with Real Madrid.
Young defender Amara Nallo will also be unavailable after receiving a red card in midweek, though the academy prospect was unlikely to feature in the starting lineup. On a brighter note, Mohamed Salah is closing in on another milestone, as he is just one goal or assist away from equalling the Premier League record for the most goal contributions for a single club. His tally of 275 for Liverpool leaves him one behind Wayne Rooney’s record of 276 for Manchester United.
For Aston Villa, Unai Emery will be unable to call on Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott, who is ineligible to face his parent club, though he did not feature in the victory over Manchester City anyway. Villa will also be without Emiliano Buendia, who sustained a foot injury last weekend. Fortunately for the visitors, the issue is not considered serious, but he will still miss the trip to Anfield. Youri Tielemans and Andres Garcia are also sidelined, adding to Emery’s selection challenges.
Buendia’s absence is expected to open up competition for a spot in the forward line, with Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen both vying for a place. Sancho came on to replace Buendia against City but was later withdrawn himself, a move Emery clarified was due to fatigue rather than poor performance.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Kamara; Malen, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa
