Liverpool go into their Premier League dwelling match towards Aston Villa having gained their final six matches at Anfield and with the opposition struggling a slide in kind.
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Premier League (11) | Anfield
November 9, 2024 | 8pm (GMT)
Liverpool supporters are assured as they go right into a weekend that would 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 troublesome 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 rationale for that is that TNT Sports activities couldn’t schedule this conflict for his or her typical 12.30pm slot as Unai Emery’s aspect performed away within the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Forward of the 2021/22 season, it was agreed that no golf equipment enjoying on a Wednesday evening within the Champions League can be scheduled for an early kick-off within the Premier League the next Saturday.
That has since been modified to solely cowl groups enjoying 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 damage, saying: “He shall be again one or two weeks after the worldwide break.”
Federico Chiesa will possible return at the same time and we hope Harvey Elliott shall be again by then too, although updates on his health has been sparse.
Alisson additionally stays out because of his hamstring damage 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 resolution
Having a squad filled with gamers performing nicely is good for Liverpool, but it surely does current Slot with considerably of a conundrum in his crew picks.
Towards 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 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 thus far, 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 aspect to choose up factors.
Villa followers, although, aren’t too optimistic about their probabilities this weekend. Supporter Tom Fahy even instructed This Is Anfield that the crew look “determined for the worldwide break so we are able to accumulate and regroup.”
For the Anfield fixture, they may possible 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 to the supervisor.
Youri Tielemans might additionally miss out, although Birmingham Reside report that Emery is “hopeful” the Belgian shall be accessible regardless of coping with “a small knee ache.”
5. Liverpool’s left-back battle
With Kostas Tsimikas‘ bettering 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 have now two excellent left-backs and we play many, many, many video games,” the pinnacle coach mentioned.
“Then I feel each of them want their video games, as a result of it’s additionally a place the place numerous effort is being requested.
“For those who 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 for those who examine that to full-backs or the midfielders or the wingers.
“So there are a number of the explanation 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 ought to be bouncing!
Whereas it isn’t preferrred for travelling supporters, Saturday’s 8pm kick-off time towards Aston Villa does imply Anfield ought to be even louder than regular.
After having watched Man Metropolis hopefully drop factors away towards Brighton at 5.30pm, Liverpool followers ought to be greater than up for the match given the rising significance of each sport because the Reds’ kind exhibits 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 shall be eyeing up with confidence given their robust however finally unsuccessful shows towards Liverpool.
Arsenal, too, have a troublesome 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 aspect 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 sport on Sunday.
8. Historical past factors to objectives
This would be the a hundredth assembly between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield in all competitions. The Reds have gained 62 of the earlier 99.
The final 14 encounters in all competitions between have produced 57 objectives, a mean of greater than 4 per sport.
In the meantime, there has solely been one goalless draw within the final 38 league encounters at Anfield. In truth, Liverpool have scored 344 league objectives towards Villa of their historical past – greater than they’ve netted towards every other crew.
Every of the Reds’ final 10 objectives 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 gained 4 instances. Aston Villa, in the meantime, have gained 11 of their 20 matches refereed by him.
Timothy Wooden and Craig Taylor will function Coote’s assistants at Anfield, with Sam Allison performing 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 towards Bournemouth.
10. Observe the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa is stay on TNT Sports activities 1 with kickoff at 8pm (GMT).
TIA’s matchday stay weblog shall be up and operating from 7.15pm, with Harry McMullen tasked with retaining you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!
