Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Date: 4th October 2020, Sunday
Time: 7.15 PM (BST), 11.45 PM (IST)
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham, England
Aston Villa will host Liverpool on Sunday as both teams look to get back to winning games after losing their respective League Cup games in midweek.
Both teams have a one hundred per cent winning record in the Premier League this season, but at least one side have to make peace with losing their winning streak on Sunday.
Aston Villa are yet to concede a goal and have looked clinical. Dean Smith’s team have also done some good business in the transfer market and will be hoping to stay well above the relegation zone in the current season.
As for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, although these are just early days, they have started their title defence strongly.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Recent form
Aston Villa: W-W-W-W-L
Liverpool: W-W-W-W-L
Aston VIlla have a changed outlook in the new season. After surviving the relegation battle in the previous campaign, Dean Smith’s men have put up inspired performances in the Premier League so far.
They have won both their fixtures with comfortable margins and are yet to concede a single goal, defeating Sheffield United and Fulham in the process.
The Villains, however, come into this game on the back of a 1-0 loss to Stoke City in the League Cup.
After losing the Community Shield to Arsenal on penalties, Liverpool edged out Leeds United 4-3 in the Premier League opener.
Since then, the Reds have put up a stable, ominous and resolute team performance as they beat Chelsea and Arsenal in the league.
However, the Reds succumbed to Arsenal on penalties again, this time in the League Cup, as the Merseyside giants’ poor form in domestic cup competitions continue.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Head-to-head record
Total Matches: 194
Aston Villa wins: 58
Liverpool wins: 96
Draws: 40
Liverpool have historic advantage added to their present unassailable form. The Reds have won the bulk of the games played against the Clarets throughout history.
The first-ever match played between the two sides was a League Division one game played in 1894 which resulted in a 1-2 Aston Villa win. Since then, the Reds have had a clear 96-58 lead over the side from Birmingham.
The last fixture between the two sides ended in a comfortable 2-0 victory for Liverpool at Anfield, while the game at Villa Park resulted in a dramatic 1-2 win for Liverpool.
The Clarets led till the 87th minute but late goals from Andrew Robertson and Sadio Mane turned the tables and Liverpool took away all three points.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Team news
Aston Villa
Chelsea loanee Ross Barkley could make his debut while Jack Grealish is set to return to the side after recovering from a leg injury.
Orland Nyland joins the likes of Kortney Hause, Bjorn Engels, Tom Heaton and Wesley in the long Aston Villa injury list. Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Tyrone Mings are expected to return to the side.
Liverpool
Sadio Mane joined Thiago Alacantara in the coronavirus infection list and will sit out all the Liverpool games till the end of the international break. Summer signing Diogo Jota is expected to replace Mane in the starting line-up.
Captain Jordan Henderson has been declared match-fit and is expected to get some playing time, if not start for the Reds. Kostas Tsimikas, Joel Matip and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be unavailable for the game.
Regulars like Alisson Becker, Trend Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Roberto Firminho and Fabinho will return to the starting line-up after being rested for the League Cup game against Arsenal.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Predicted line-ups
Aston Villa (4-4-2): Emiliano Martinez, Matthew Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Matt Targett, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Conor Hourihane, Ross Barkley, Ollie Watkins, Jack Grealish
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil Van Djik, Andrew Robertson, Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firminho, Diogo Jota
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Where to watch
The game will be telecasted LIVE on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event. The game can be LIVE streamed on SkySports.com and the SkySports Application.
The game will be telecasted on Star Sports Select 1 in the Indian Subcontinent and will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar Premium.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Prediction
Aston Villa have been in good form in the early days of the 2020/21 season and are yet to concede in the Premier League.
Visiting teams have often struggled at Villa Park, and it took Liverpool two late goals to beat the Villains last season.
However, the depth and prowess of Jurgen Klopp’s team is expected to get the Reds past the gritty Aston Villa team.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool predicted scoreline: 1-2
Also Read: Levante vs Real Madrid: Preview, team news, predicted XI and more | La Liga 2020-21