Liverpool host Aston Villa within the Premier League on Sunday afternoon with out each first-choice centre-backs, in what’s one other testing sport for Jurgen Klopp‘s aspect.
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Premier League (4) | AnfieldSeptember 3, 2023 | 2pm (BST)
The Reds picked up a shocking 2-1 win at Newcastle final weekend, with an impressed Darwin Nunez steering his 10-man aspect to victory.
Subsequent up is Sunday’s go to of a formidable Villa outfit, who’ve recovered from a gap weekend mauling by the Magpies, securing back-to-back triumphs – they’ve additionally hit eight in opposition to Hibernian within the European qualifying spherical.
Liverpool will must be at their finest after they face Unai Emery’s crew, having solely managed a late draw at house to them within the remaining house sport of final season.
Listed below are 10 issues to know forward of the Reds’ conflict with the Villans:
1. No Van Dijk or Konate
Whereas there’s loads to really feel optimistic about going into Sunday’s match, there are actual considerations on the again.
Virgil van Dijk misses out via suspension, with an prolonged ban more likely to come his method, whereas Ibrahima Konate received’t be again from harm till after the worldwide break.
Meaning Joel Matip and Joe Gomez are anticipated to start out at centre-back, in what might be an enormous check of the pair following poor seasons in 2023/24.
Each largely did properly final weekend however they are going to must be on the high of the sport in opposition to a vibrant Villa assault that includes the likes of Ollie Watkins and Moussa Diaby.
2. Different harm information
Away from the absence of Van Dijk and Konate, Liverpool’s harm worries are easing.
Curtis Jones has been again in coaching and will make the matchday squad as he seems to succeed in one other gear in his Reds profession, whereas Stefan Bajcetic can be in rivalry.
Thiago continues to be out, nevertheless, having suffered a “little setback” in his restoration, in keeping with Klopp, so the Spaniard received’t be again match for an additional few weeks.
New signing Ryan Gravenberch was not registed in time to be a part of the matchday squad.
3. Predicted Liverpool XI
With the worldwide break to come back subsequent, Klopp doesn’t want to fret about rotation, so Liverpool’s strongest potential beginning XI is to be anticipated.
Matip and Gomez might be flanked by Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson, whereas in entrance of the defence, Wataru Endo might be given an opportunity to play with 10 teammates!
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister look nailed-on to start out within the No.8 roles, however an enormous resolution needs to be in assault.
Nunez’s unbelievable impression at Newcastle certainly places him in a powerful place to start out, however Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota are robust choices, too.
Attainable Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson; Endo, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister; Salah, Diaz, Nunez
4. Aston Villa a crew on the up
It’s truthful to say that Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard did an underwhelming job as Villa supervisor, however they’ve been reworked since Emery changed him final October.
The Spaniard guided his aspect to a seventh-place end within the Premier League, qualifying for the UEFA Europa Convention League, they usually have loved a formidable summer season switch window.
Extremely-rated Spain worldwide Pau Torres has are available in to positive up the defence, whereas Youri Tielemans, Nicolo Zaniolo (mortgage) and Diaby additionally characterize intriguing signings.
As talked about, a 5-1 thrashing by Newcastle was an alarming begin to the season, however wins over Everton and Burnley have steadied the ship.
Exterior of the standard ‘huge six’, Villa are one of many main sides within the division today, and they’re going to pose an enormous risk this weekend.
5. Possible Villa beginning XI
Villa comfortably noticed off Burnley in a 3-1 win final Sunday and it could be a shock if their beginning XI was a lot totally different at Anfield.
Emiliano Martinez stays one of many Premier League‘s finest goalkeepers, following his 2022 World Cup heroics with Argentina, and he’ll begin behind a probable back-three of Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos and Torres.
Tyrone Mings could possibly be out for the entire season after struggling a critical knee harm in opposition to Newcastle, whereas Emiliano Bunedia, Jacob Ramsey and ex-Liverpool man Philippe Coutinho are additionally out.
Matty Money scored twice at Burnley and will proceed without any consideration wing-back, with Lucas Digne on the left aspect, and Boubacar Kamara and Douglas Luiz in midfield.
Diaby and John McGinn are then anticipated to help Ollie Watkins in assault, with the latter searching for his first league purpose of the season.
Predicted Villa XI (3-4-2-1): Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres; Money, Kamara, Luiz, Digne; Diaby, McGinn; Watkins.
6. Salah goes nowhere…
Talking to the media on Friday, Klopp reiterated that Mohamed Salah is just not on the market this summer season, regardless of continued curiosity from Saudi Arabia:
“The place stays the identical, completely. Little doubt about that. We can not [sell Salah]. That’s how it’s. Nothing else to say.”
Whereas the Saudi switch window doesn’t shut till subsequent week, it could be an almighty shock if Salah left, with no time to exchange him.
Subsequent summer season feels much more probably, at which factors he might be 32 and can solely have one yr remaining on his present deal.
7. 9 years with out an Anfield win
Whereas neutrals could also be fancying Villa to trigger Liverpool actual issues on Sunday, their file at Anfield makes for grim studying for his or her supporters.
Their final win there got here again in September 2014, when a Gabriel Agbonlahor strike proved to be the distinction between the 2 sides, as Brendan Rodgers’ reign began to go bitter.
Since then, Liverpool have received 4 of the 5 Premier League conferences which have taken place at Anfield, together with a hard-earned 1-0 win over Gerrard’s Villa in December 2021, because of a Salah penalty.
A late Roberto Firmino equaliser was wanted again in Might to earn Klopp’s males a 1-1 draw, nevertheless, which was an indication of their enchancment underneath Emery.
8. Did You Know?
Nunez has taken some unfair flak since becoming a member of Liverpool, when in reality he has achieved a strong job general, regardless of some rash ending.
The 24-year-old has scored 17 targets in his first 45 appearances for the Reds, which is strictly the identical tally as Luis Suarez managed in that point when he arrived.
Nunez’s compatriot ended up being one of many best gamers in Liverpool’s historical past as he grew extra accustomed to the Premier League, and who’s to say the present Reds hero can’t do related?
Anticipating him to succeed in Suarez’s degree could possibly be unfair, however this statistic reveals that soccer followers may be far too fast to put in writing gamers off.
9. Simon Hooper takes cost
Simon Hooper has been confirmed because the referee for Sunday’s sport, with all eyes set to be on the officers as soon as once more, following the farce at Newcastle final time round.
The 41-year-old took cost of three Liverpool league video games final season, the primary of which was the 3-1 victory at house to Southampton.
Hooper then oversaw the 2-0 Merseyside derby win over Everton, in addition to the galling 4-1 defeat away to Man Metropolis in April.
Worryingly, he didn’t award Wolves a blatant late penalty at United earlier this month, when it was clear that Andre Onana had fouled Sasa Kalajdzic, so don’t maintain your breath with regards to controversy being prevented.
10. Comply with the match with TIA
Frustratingly, Liverpool vs. Aston Villa is NOT stay on Sky Sports activities on Sunday, with their match of selection Crystal Palace vs. Wolves as a substitute, adopted by Man United‘s journey to Arsenal (4.30pm).
TIA’s matchday stay weblog might be out there as all the time, nevertheless, with Sam Millne preserving you entertained from 1.15pm (UK).
Come on you Reds!
