Liverpool host Aston Villa in a huge Premier League clash at Anfield.
Victory would see Liverpool climb as high as second in the table, whilst Villa can leapfrog their hosts with a win and go fifth.
Team News
Virgil van Dijk is suspended for Liverpool after he was red carded during their comeback win at Newcastle.
Ibrahima Konate (muscle), Thiago Alcantara (hip) and Curtis Jones (ankle) remain absent.
Villa could be without goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez who faces a late fitness test after he missed their last two matches with a calf injury.
Tyrone Mings (knee), Alex Moreno, Philippe Coutinho (both hamstring), Tim Iroegbunam (unspecified), Emiliano Buendia (ACL) and Jacob Ramsey (foot) are all ruled out.
When is Kick-Off?
Liverpool host Aston Villa at Anfield in a 2pm BST kick-off on Sunday 3 September, untelevised live in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Liverpool are unbeaten in their last five meetings against Villa (W4, D1).
- Aston Villa have taken just one point from their last five visits to Liverpool (D1, L4).
- Liverpool have kept just one clean sheet in their last six league meetings against Villa.
- Jurgen Klopp’s Reds are yet to score a headed league goal this season.
- No Villa player has made more interceptions than Lucas Digne in their opening three league games of this season.
Prediction
Having fought back to defeat Newcastle with ten men, Liverpool are lucky to even come into this game off the back of that victory because they could of easily been down to nine men and a goal behind, having mounted an aggressive defence in the first half on Tyneside.
Their attack and relentless unity however proved the difference with a clinical comeback but I am still not impressed by their defending, which seems massively vulnerable when under intense pressure if pressed which Villa should look to do.
Villa meanwhile seem to have found momentum with four ruthless wins and I am surprised that Unai Emery didn’t rest players in Thursday’s win over Hibernian, such was their strong first leg lead in their Europa Conference League Play-Off.
I however do expect Liverpool to pose a tough test but if Villa can get at their defence with clinical end product and continue to defend well, I do fancy them to get at least a draw but a win wouldn’t be too surprising.
Prediction: Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa