Who: Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Content: English Premier League
Location: Anfield, Liverpool, England
Date and time: Saturday, November 1st, 8pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: Get everything ready on Al Jazeera Sports from 17:00 GMT ahead of the live text commentary stream.
Liverpool manager Arne Slott is in dire need of star names to get his side back on track after worsening the Premier League champions’ dismal run of form by being dumped out of the League Cup by Crystal Palace on Wednesday.
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Slott made 10 changes to clarify his priorities as Palace cruised to a 3-0 win against a young Liverpool side at Anfield.
This was the Reds’ sixth defeat in seven games, their fourth in the Premier League after last Saturday’s loss to Brentford.
Al Jazeera Sport looks back at Saturday’s match against Aston Villa as pressure mounts on the club at Anfield.
What does Liverpool manager Slott think about their current results?
Liverpool manager Arne Slott says his side must not make a habit of losing games they should win after the Premier League champions found themselves in crisis after losing six of their last seven games.
Slott’s decision to select an inexperienced team in the 3-0 loss to the Eagles drew criticism, but he once again defended the need to rest key players after a series of injury problems early in the season.
As well as the visit of in-form Villa, Slott was also keeping an eye on Real Madrid’s Champions League trip to Anfield on Tuesday and Liverpool’s clash with Manchester City next Sunday.
“It has nothing to do with the depth of the team. It has to do with how we’ve been throughout the season in terms of injuries and strength,” Slott said at Friday’s pregame press conference.
“It’s just the way it is. We still have more than enough good players to play Saturday’s game, Tuesday’s game and Sunday’s game, but we have to take care of some of them. That’s why I made the decision not to play.”
How are Aston Villa doing as they head to Liverpool?
Five games into the Premier League, Villa are trailing Liverpool by 12 points.
However, with Unai Emery’s side improving just as Liverpool’s losing streak began, the two sides will face each other this weekend with only goal difference.
Villas’ winning streak has now extended to four games, including notable games against Tottenham and City, putting them back in contention for Champions League qualification.
Slott pointed to Villa as an example of how quickly things can change and the strength of the Premier League as a whole.
How is the race for the Premier League title going?
Arsenal are at the top of the table with a four-point lead, but only three points separate them from second-placed Bournemouth and eighth-placed Villa.
“Apart from Arsenal, I think a lot of teams are around the same points, so this just goes to show you how difficult the Premier League is,” Slott added.
“Normally in our case we already have quite a long run, but we don’t lose every football match where we create more chances than the other team.
“They (Villa) decided not to make it a habit. I hope we don’t get used to it too, having more chances than our opponents and not winning them.”
Why did Slott make so many changes at Palace?
The Dutchman said he could not afford to incur further injuries to his key players as the Villa visit is immediately followed by games against Real and City.
“If you lose six out of seven games, you can’t imagine there’s going to be more pressure,” Slott said. “When you’re doing so well, when you’re playing for Liverpool, when you’re managing Liverpool, you know there’s pressure.”
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Is Liverpool’s form a crisis for the Premier League champions?
The Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet in 10 games as Slot struggles to find the right balance for a team that underwent massive turnover during the transfer window.
Liverpool spent nearly £450 million ($590 million), a Premier League record, but lost significantly more players than they brought in, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz in particular missing.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: “I think Liverpool are in a period of crisis now when you see the champions losing four games in a row in the Premier League because of their summer spending.”
What happened the last time Liverpool played Aston Villa?
The last meeting between the sides was in the Premier League, a 2-2 draw at Villa Park in February.
Mohamed Salah’s goal in the 29th minute put the Reds ahead, but Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins turned the game around by half-time.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, now at Real Madrid, equalized in the 61st minute.
What happened in the corresponding match last season?
A Premier League match played at Anfield in November ended in a 2-0 victory for the Reds.
Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the 20th minute, and Mohamed Salah sealed the deal in the 84th minute.
When was the last time Aston Villa beat Liverpool?
Villa last defeated the Reds in October 2020 in a Premier League match at Villa Park. The home team recorded a 7-2 victory, marking the third time they have scored six or more goals in a game against the Reds. The first was a 6-2 home win in the 1915 league, and the second was a 6-1 home win in the 1932 league.
Liverpool have only scored six goals against Villa once, in a 6-0 win at Villa Park in 2016.
The Reds are undefeated in their last 10 games since losing in 2020, winning seven of them.
When was the last time Aston Villa won at Liverpool?
Villa last won at Anfield in 2014, when Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the only goal of the Premier League match in the ninth minute.
It was their second win on their third visit to Anfield, the first being a 3-1 Premier League win in 2012 thanks to a double from former Reds striker Christian Benteke.
Andreas Weimann scored Villa’s extra goal between Benteke’s goals and Steven Gerrard gave the home side a comfortable victory in the 87th minute.
Both games were part of Villa’s four-game unbeaten run at Anfield, but the Midlands club have since lost six of last season’s outings.
direct confrontation
This is the 206th time the two clubs have met, with Liverpool winning 103 and Villa winning 59.
liverpool team news
Ryan Gravenbirch could return from his ankle injury in time for the Villa visit.
However, Alexander Isaac and Curtis Jones remain doubtful with groin problems, while Alisson Becker, Jeremy Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are all ruled out due to injury.
Amara Naro was suspended after being sent off in midweek.
Aston Villa team news
Loanny Harvey Elliott is not eligible to play against his parent club. Emiliano Buendia is doubtful to play due to a foot injury, while Youri Tielemans (calf) and Andres Garcia (unspecified) are both ruled out.
Liverpool’s starters
Mamadashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkes. Grafenberg, Schoboschlei. Salah, Wartz, Gakpo. Equitique
Aston Villa starters
Martinez. Cash, Consa, Torres, Digne. Onana, Kamala. Mullen, Rogers, McGinn. watkins
Liverpool form (all competitions – end of latest match):
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Aston Villa form (all competitions):
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