Liverpool go into their Premier League dwelling match towards Aston Villa having received their final six matches at Anfield and with the opposition struggling a slide in kind.
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Premier League (11) | AnfieldNovember 9, 2024 | 8pm (GMT)
Liverpool supporters are assured as they go right into a weekend that might put their crew firmly forward of their rivals or, at worst, see them end one level behind the league leaders.
With a global break to comply with, the Reds will wish to jet off around the globe with a win to indicate for his or her efforts forward of a tough run of fixtures that features Actual Madrid, Man Metropolis and Everton away.
1. A Saturday evening kick-off
Unusually, Liverpool’s match towards Aston Villa kicks off at 8pm on a Saturday evening.
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 evening 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 towards Aston Villa.
Nevertheless, he did give us information on Diogo Jota‘s restoration from a rib harm, saying: “He will probably be again one or two weeks after the worldwide break.”
Federico Chiesa will doubtless return at an identical time and we hope Harvey Elliott will probably be again by then too, although updates on his health has been sparse.
Alisson additionally stays out on account of his hamstring harm sustained towards Crystal Palace on October 5.
3. Arne Slot’s 3 choice dilemmas
• READ HERE: Liverpool lineup choices vs. Villa – 3 key dilemmas & Luis Diaz choice
Having a squad stuffed with gamers performing properly is sensible for Liverpool, nevertheless it does current Slot with considerably of a conundrum in his crew alternatives.
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 may 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 wonderful kind, we’ve gone for Jones to begin 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 crew have skilled a current hiccup in outcomes.
Having misplaced their final three matches, towards Membership Brugge, Tottenham and Crystal Palace, there may be some stress on the Birmingham-based facet to choose up factors.
Villa followers, although, aren’t too optimistic about their possibilities this weekend. Supporter Tom Fahy even instructed This Is Anfield that the crew look “determined for the worldwide break so we will gather and regroup.”
For the Anfield fixture, they’ll doubtless have a close to fully-fit squad, with simply two gamers undoubtedly out – Ross Barkley and Matty Money who each have “small accidents” to their hamstring and calf, in accordance with the supervisor.
Youri Tielemans may additionally miss out, although Birmingham Stay report that Emery is “hopeful” the Belgian will probably be obtainable 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 an announcement by selecting Tsimikas for this match.
“I feel we now have two superb left-backs and we play many, many, many video games,” the pinnacle coach stated.
“Then I feel each of them want their video games, as a result of it’s additionally a place the place a number of effort is being requested.
“If you happen to have a look at the gamers who’ve performed most video games, it’s principally our centre-backs and so they don’t actually run essentially the most when you evaluate that to full-backs or the midfielders or the wingers.
“So there are a number of explanation why our full-backs or our midfielders are typically rotated, however undoubtedly it additionally has to do with the standard of the gamers and the distinction in, a minimum of in my view, the standard of those gamers.”
6. Anfield must be bouncing!
Whereas it isn’t supreme for travelling supporters, Saturday’s 8pm kick-off time towards Aston Villa does imply Anfield must be even louder than regular.
After having watched Man Metropolis hopefully drop factors away towards Brighton at 5.30pm, Liverpool followers must 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 evening, 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 will probably be eyeing up with confidence given their robust however finally unsuccessful shows towards 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 towards 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 hundredth 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. Actually, Liverpool have scored 344 league targets towards Villa of their historical past – greater than they’ve netted towards another crew.
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 instances Coote has taken cost of Liverpool matches, the reds have received 4 instances. 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 over the identical position towards Bournemouth.
10. Observe the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa is reside on TNT Sports activities 1 with kickoff at 8pm (GMT).
TIA’s matchday reside weblog will probably be up and operating from 7.15pm, with Harry McMullen tasked with conserving you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!
