Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa welcome his former playing team, Liverpool to Villa Park in a huge rearranged Premier League clash.
Victory would see Aston Villa leapfrog Crystal Palace to go tenth in the table.
Liverpool know that a win would see them stay second but move level on points with Manchester City, unless win by five or more goals which would see Jurgen Klopp’s Reds go top.
Team News
Jacob Ramsey is ruled out for Aston Villa with a groin injury which forced him to skip Saturday’s win at Burnley.
Leon Bailey (ankle) and Kortney Hause (abdominal) remain absent.
Liverpool could welcome Roberto Firmino back into contention if he passes a late fitness test on a foot injury, which has kept the Brazilian out of their last six matches.
Stat Attack
- Aston Villa have won just one of their last eight league meetings against Liverpool (W1, L7).
- Liverpool have lost just one of their last seven league visits to Villa Park (W6, L1).
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has scored four goals in his last three appearances against Villa.
- Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins have scored in the same match for Villa on just three occasions this season.
- 57 of Salah’s 130 shots have been converted onto target from which 22 of those accurate shots have turned into eventual goals.
Prediction
Following a rut between mid-March to mid-April, Villa seem to be making progress again because they were absolutely superb at controlling the game at Burnley with three clinical goals , whilst their defence also looked solid except when they conceded in injury time from a Burnley long through ball.
Liverpool meanwhile need a win if they’re to put the pressure back on Man City because they were stubbornly frustrated by an organised Tottenham team on Saturday, which led to numerous wasted chances but they did well to snatch a draw which might be crucial after the final games of this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds though will have memories of their disastrous last visit to Villa where they lost 7-2 last season, yet this is a chance at redemption and I fancy them to come out fighting which could be enough if they can limit Villa who seem to have their mojo back.
Prediction: Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
Result: Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool