Liverpool welcome Aston Villa to Anfield as both teams look to boost their European qualification dreams.
Victory would see Liverpool climb to fourth if Manchester United fail to win elsewhere, whilst Villa can go sixth with a win if Tottenham fail to win elsewhere in the lunchtime kick-off.
Team News
Darwin Nunez is ruled out for Liverpool after he missed their win at Leicester with a toe injury.
Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino (both muscle) could return to the matchday squad.
Thiago Alcantara (hip), Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (adductor) remain absent.
Aston Villa could be without defender, Calum Chambers due to illness.
Philippe Coutinho (muscle) and Jed Steer (Achilles) remain ruled out
When is Kick-Off?
Liverpool host Villa at Anfield in a 3:00pm BST kick-off on Saturday 20 May, untelevised in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool have won five of their last six meetings against Aston Villa (W5, L1).
- Aston Villa have won just one of their last five league visits to Liverpool at Anfield (W1, L4).
- Mohamed Salah has scored five goals in his last four league appearances against Villa (W3, L1).
- Salah has scored .nine goals in Liverpool’s last eight league matches at home. (W7, D1).
- No Villa player has scored more headed league goals this season than Ollie Watkins, who has headed in three goals in 35 appearances.
Prediction
Given the relative positions of both teams in their fights for European qualification respectively, neither team really can afford to slip up here heading into the final day.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds know that a defeat would realistically end their top-four hopes unless Man Utd implode in their final three matches, yet are unbeaten in seven matches following their clinical win at Leicester despite having to ride out the Foxes’ first-half threat.
Villa meanwhile are right in the mix for Europa League qualification but with Brighton at home to come on the final day, Unai Emery’s Villains could do with another dominant energetic performance which comfortably saw off Tottenham last weekend aside from an unlucky late penalty.
Liverpool though won’t be in any way as lacklustre as Tottenham were which probably will mean a lot more defending for Villa, because I can see the hosts coming at them hard which means that Emery’s Villains probably might have to strike early if Liverpool start as slowly as they did at Leicester.
This game nevertheless will be season-defining for both teams so I do expect a closely fought battle, although Liverpool should have enough quality to keep their hopes alive a bit longer.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa
Result: Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa
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