Preview: Liverpool vs. Aston Villa

Today at 11:30 AM

Liverpool hope to capitalize on Villa's recent struggles to stay perfect before the break

LIVERPOOL VS. ASTON VILLA

| Saturday, November 8th |
Premier League | Anfield
8PM GMT/3PM EST

Aston Villa don't have a great record against Liverpool, though their last win was that shock 7-2 result while Jürgen Klopp managed the Reds in 2020. The atmosphere will be a bit different this time around, with not only a full ground, but a late kick-off in a week when there's been much chat about the Anfield atmosphere. Villa have taken just one point home from Anfield in six attempts since their last win here back in fall 2014.

Villa come into this match off of three straight losses, losing midweek in the Champions League to Club Brugge away on Wednesday — meaning they come into this match having traveled and with a day less for preparation. Their last league loss — this past weekend against Tottenham — is pertinent for Liverpool, as Villa started strong and looked to be taking at least a draw home with them before completely collapsing and shipping four at the end of the second half. Liverpool have shown themselves to be a strong second half team lately, even if the preference would, of course, be simply starting well. Villa have also lost to Crystal Palace and drawn 1-1 to Bournemouth since winning in the Champions League against Bologna on October 22nd.

Villa have had issues at the back this season, with their last clean sheet coming against relatively week competition back in October as they drew 0-0 at home to Manchester United. Up front we are of course aware of Ollie Watkins, but Morgan Rogers, too, is a threat for Villa.

Villa do come into the match with a light injury report, however, with just Ross Barkley and Matty Cash questionable to feature.

Predicted Liverpool Lineup (4-2-3-1)

Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Díaz; Núñez

There have been no changes in Liverpool's injury situation, though Arne Slot did suggest Diogo Jota is on track to return after the international break.

Slot will have decisions to make in every area, with Andy Robertson and Kostas Tsimikas sharing minutes at left back. Either could start on Saturday, just as it's a toss-up between in-form Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield.

Up front Slot changed personnel and put Luis Díaz loosely through the center against Bayer Leverkusen, though he has since suggested this was intended as a particular challenge for their defense. As such, we're likely to see a choice between Luis Díaz and Cody Gakpo — the midweek goalscorers — out left.

All of the decisions Slot will have to make are good ones, as apart from injuries he has a lot of players in form. We could see him rotate the center of defense before the international break, as he did some rotation before the last one. Slot knows, even if we forget, that just because he doesn't have a game to manage players' minutes for in the coming week doesn't mean the players won't be run ragged by their national teams.

What the Managers Had to Say

Arne Slot: ""I'm not trying to manage expectations in the squad because we don't talk about it. The only expectation I have is that they put in the effort every day and they have done that. Usually with that results come as well."

Unai Emery: "Tomorrow is a really huge challenge for us to stop them, to play with personality. We are analysing and building the team but of course we have to compete if we want to get the level we had last year. We are more or less keeping it but we have to be stronger in some circumstances, in everything: tactically, mentally, emotionally. We are building the team with different players and building our structure. We are in this process."

The Officials

Referee: David Coote Assistants: Timothy Wood, Craig Taylor Fourth official: Sam Allison VAR: Paul Tierney Assistant VAR: Sian Massey-Ellis

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