Liverpool vs. Aston Villa

Liverpool go into their Premier League residence match in opposition to Aston Villa having received their final six matches at Anfield and with the opposition struggling a slide in kind.

Premier League (11) | AnfieldNovember 9, 2024 | 8pm (GMT)

Liverpool supporters are assured as they go right into a weekend that might put their workforce firmly forward of their rivals or, at worst, see them end one level behind the league leaders.

With a world break to observe, the Reds will wish to jet off world wide with a win to point out for his or her efforts forward of a tough run of fixtures that features Actual Madrid, Man Metropolis and Everton away.

1. A Saturday night time kick-off

Unusually, Liverpool’s match in opposition to Aston Villa kicks off at 8pm on a Saturday night time.

The explanation for that is that TNT Sports activities couldn’t schedule this conflict for his or her common 12.30pm slot as Unai Emery’s facet performed away within the Champions League on Wednesday night.

Forward of the 2021/22 season, it was agreed that no golf equipment taking part in on a Wednesday night time within the Champions League could be scheduled for an early kick-off within the Premier League the next Saturday.

That has since been modified to solely cowl groups taking part in away in Europe, which is why the Reds nonetheless had a lunchtime kick-off at Crystal Palace after dealing with Bologna.

2. Crew information

Arne Slot didn’t allude to there being any new absentees for Liverpool going into the match in opposition to Aston Villa.

Nonetheless, he did give us information on Diogo Jota‘s restoration from a rib damage, saying: “He can be again one or two weeks after the worldwide break.”

Federico Chiesa will doubtless return at the same time and we hope Harvey Elliott can be again by then too, although updates on his health has been sparse.

Alisson additionally stays out because of his hamstring damage sustained in opposition to Crystal Palace on October 5.

3. Arne Slot’s 3 choice dilemmas

• READ HERE: Liverpool lineup choices vs. Villa – 3 key dilemmas & Luis Diaz determination

Having a squad filled with gamers performing nicely is sensible for Liverpool, nevertheless it does current Slot with considerably of a conundrum in his workforce choices.

In opposition to Villa, he has three key choices to make as he decides who to play at left-back, left-wing and in midfield.

Andy Robertson might return after solely making the bench in Liverpool’s final two matches, whereas Luis Diaz additionally begins on the left.

In midfield, Slot should decide two of the trio that features Curtis Jones, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Given his glorious kind, we’ve gone for Jones to start out this one with Mac Allister.

Predicted XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones, Mac Allister; Salah, Nunez, Diaz

4. Aston Villa’s dip in kind

• OPPOSITION Q&A – Villa look “determined for worldwide break” – focus ‘dropped’ earlier than Liverpool

Aston Villa have loved one other profitable season to this point, however Emery’s workforce have skilled a current hiccup in outcomes.

Having misplaced their final three matches, in opposition to Membership Brugge, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, there may be some strain on the Birmingham-based facet to select up factors.

Villa followers, although, aren’t too optimistic about their possibilities this weekend. Supporter Tom Fahy even instructed This Is Anfield that the workforce look “determined for the worldwide break so we are able to accumulate and regroup.”

For the Anfield fixture, they may doubtless have a close to fully-fit squad, with simply two gamers positively out – Ross Barkley and Matty Money who each have “small accidents” to their hamstring and calf, in accordance with the supervisor.

Youri Tielemans might additionally miss out, although Birmingham Dwell report that Emery is “hopeful” the Belgian can be accessible regardless of coping with “a small knee ache.”

5. Liverpool’s left-back battle

With Kostas Tsimikas‘ enhancing kind and Robertson’s slight drop-off has come a conundrum for Slot, who should resolve whether or not to make a press release by selecting Tsimikas for this match.

“I feel we’ve got two superb left-backs and we play many, many, many video games,” the top coach mentioned.

“Then I feel each of them want their video games, as a result of it’s additionally a place the place a variety of effort is being requested.

“If you happen to take a look at the gamers who’ve performed most video games, it’s principally our centre-backs they usually don’t actually run essentially the most for those who examine that to full-backs or the midfielders or the wingers.

“So there are a number of the reason why our full-backs or our midfielders are typically rotated, however positively it additionally has to do with the standard of the gamers and the distinction in, at the least in my view, the standard of those gamers.”

6. Anfield needs to be bouncing!

Whereas it isn’t splendid for travelling supporters, Saturday’s 8pm kick-off time in opposition to Aston Villa does imply Anfield needs to be even louder than regular.

After having watched Man Metropolis hopefully drop factors away in opposition to Brighton at 5.30pm, Liverpool followers needs to be greater than up for the match given the rising significance of each recreation because the Reds’ kind reveals no indicators of slowing.

The additional pint and nature of the final two atmospheres at Anfield will imply these going to the match are in for an excellent night time, however that doesn’t occur by magic. Make yourselves heard!

7. Title rivals’ fixtures

This isn’t a straightforward weekend for any of the Premier League title chasers, if such a weekend even exists.

As talked about, Man Metropolis play away at Brighton on Saturday night – a match the Seagulls can be eyeing up with confidence given their robust however in the end unsuccessful shows in opposition to Liverpool.

Arsenal, too, have a tough match as they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.

Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta’s groups are in contrasting moods in the mean time, Chelsea coming into the sport off the again of an 8-0 Europa Convention League win in opposition to Armenian facet Noah, whereas Arsenal misplaced 1-0 in midweek to Internazionale.

As they sit in third place, it’s only proper that we point out Nottingham Forest‘s fixture too! They play Newcastle on the Metropolis Floor – a 2pm televised recreation on Sunday.

8. Historical past factors to targets

This would be the a centesimal assembly between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield in all competitions. The Reds have received 62 of the earlier 99.

The final 14 encounters in all competitions between have produced 57 targets, a mean of greater than 4 per recreation.

In the meantime, there has solely been one goalless draw within the final 38 league encounters at Anfield. In reality, Liverpool have scored 344 league targets in opposition to Villa of their historical past – greater than they’ve netted in opposition to another workforce.

Every of the Reds’ final 10 targets scored in league and cup have come within the second half of video games.

9. Who’s the referee?

David Coote, who has issued 28 yellow playing cards in 5 Premier League video games this season, will referee the match and Paul Tierney will act as lead VAR.

Of the seven occasions Coote has taken cost of Liverpool matches, the reds have received 4 occasions. Aston Villa, in the meantime, have received 11 of their 20 matches refereed by him.

Timothy Wooden and Craig Taylor will function Coote’s assistants at Anfield, with Sam Allison appearing as fourth official.

Sian Massey-Ellis would be the assistant VAR alongside Coote. It’s her second Liverpool match this marketing campaign after taking up the identical position in opposition to Bournemouth.