Aston Villa head to Anfield to face Jürgen Klopp’s top-four chasing Liverpool this weekend. Here’s the latest heading into the penultimate game of the season…
THE BUILD UP
Unai Emery’s side have it all to play for in the remaining two games of the campaign as they eye a place in Europe next season. The Villans are currently eighth in the Premier League on 57 points, level with Ryan Mason’s Tottenham Hotspur and just a point behind Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton & Hove Albion.
The claret and blue outfit got the better of their top seven rivals Spurs last time out, defeating the North-London side by two goals to one at a vibrant Villa Park. Jacob Ramsey opened the scoring for the hosts after just eight minutes, side-footing Leon Bailey’s cut-back past Fraser Forster. Douglas Luiz then doubled the lead in the 72nd minute, curling a free-kick up and over the wall for his sixth goal of the season.
Despite late drama that saw Harry Kane win and convert a controversial penalty, Villa came away with all three points after a superb performance, keeping their European aspirations alive.
Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool enter this weekend in fine form, having won their previous seven in the league. A victory over Dean Smith’s relegation-threatened Leicester City on Monday night also extended an unbeaten run to nine games and the Reds are back in the race for the top-four as a result.
A first-half brace from Curtis Jones and a goal of the season contender from Trent Alexander-Arnold saw Liverpool leave the King Power with a comfortable three points. The Merseyside team are fifth on 65 points as it stands, just a point behind Erik Ten Hag’s Manchester United who have played a game less.
When these two sides last met in the league, the Reds cruised to a 3-1 victory at Villa Park. Can Unai Emery take revenge this week and claim a rare win at Anfield or will Klopp’s men maintain their magnificent winning run and continue to pile the pressure on those above them?
TEAM NEWS
ASTON VILLA
Aston Villa will be without Philippe Coutinho for this weekend’s trip to Anfield. The Brazilian suffered a injury in training last week, meaning he will miss the upcoming fixture against his old side and the final game of the season against Brighton at Villa Park next weekend too.
The club released a fitness update yesterday afternoon, confirming the 30-year-old’s absence. It stated: “Philippe will miss the rest of the season due to the injury suffered before the win over Spurs at Villa Park last weekend.”
An update was also provided on defender Calum Chambers who missed Thursday’s training session due to illness. The 28-year-old was expected to return to Bodymoor Heath today and should be in the squad for tomorrow’s crucial game.
Elsewhere, it has been confirmed that goalkeeper Jed Steer will be leaving at the end of the season following the expiration of his contract. The 30-year-old shot-stopper has spent nearly a decade at the club but will be moved on in the summer.
LIVERPOOL
Jürgen Klopp could be without as many as six players ahead of the crucial fixture this weekend. Midfielder Thiago Alcântara is one of the Reds’ guaranteed absentees after receiving surgery for a hip injury. The Spaniard has missed the last four Premier League games and will not feature again for the Merseyside outfit until next season.
Also unavailable is defender Calvin Ramsey and midfielder Stefan Bajčetić. Ramsey, who made the switch from Aberdeen to Liverpool this season, is out with a knee injury, whilst Bajčetić, who bagged one of the three goals in the Reds’ victory at Villa Park in December, is sidelined with an adductor injury.
Midfielder Naby Keïta, who is leaving on a free this summer, will miss his final home game, as will Uruguayan forward Darwin Núñez, but Roberto Firmino is expected to pass fit, despite an injury that kept the Brazilian sidelined for the previous six games.
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A BIT ON LIVERPOOL
This season has been an ambivalent one for Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool. At times, the Reds have looked ruthless and unstoppable but they have occasionally looked uninspiring and miserable too. The 2019/20 Premier League winners have recorded impressive victories against Manchester City, Newcastle United and Manchester United, but fell to defeat at the hands of Leeds United and Nottingham Forest earlier this term.
Recent form has seen Liverpool look back to their best however, and Klopp’s men are mounting a late charge for a top-four finish – something that looked incredibly unlikely a couple of months ago.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has enjoyed a new lease of life in an inverted-midfield position and Mohammed Salah has continued to find the back of the net, bagging six in his last seven games, but the whole team has stepped up in recent weeks and the six-time UEFA Champions League winners are a force to be reckoned with once again.
Liverpool have been disappointing away from the league though, and have crashed out of each cup competition (both domestic and continental). The Reds were knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup in the fourth round, losing to Manchester City and Brighton respectively, and the UEFA Champions League in the quarter-finals to reigning champions Real Madrid by an aggregate score of 6-2.
Klopp will be seeking vengeance on Europe’s biggest stage next season, but will need his side to claim two more victories and secure fourth-spot to do so. The German head-coach is currently serving a two-game touchline ban and is therefore unable to instruct his side from the dugout tomorrow afternoon; his assistant, Pep Lijnders, will be the main man on the sideline for the Reds instead.
Can Liverpool make it eight on the bounce with a win at Anfield tomorrow or will Aston Villa make it a miserable afternoon for the Reds and dampen their chances at top-four?
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MY PREDICTED LINE-UP
Let’s take a look at my predicted line-up for this upcoming fixture…
Do you agree? Who makes your side? Share yours now and let’s discuss?
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