Match Result: Liverpool v Aston Villa
Liverpool won the Premier League by a ten-point margin last season and began the current campaign with a spate of victories. However, they remain stuck on fifteen points after a procession of defeats. Late goals conceded at Selhurst Park and Stamford Bridge led to defeats before being turned over against Manchester United at Anfield.
More recently, Brentford were able to beat the champions and a fifth consecutive loss is surely unthinkable. Arne Slot admits that his team are struggling defensively right now, with the Dutchman potentially having that difficult second season and the Merseyside outfit are in danger of losing touch with Arsenal and some of the other teams.
All is not lost considering that the gap is only seven points at this early juncture, although Aston Villa are difficult opponents. There is the fact that Liverpool have won three of their four games at Merseyside this term, with the Reds having beaten Bournemouth, Arsenal and Everton, although those triumphs were all by a slender margin.
According to the Premier League betting sites, there is a 65% chance of Liverpool landing a victory. They face an Aston Villa side whose four games on the road this term have been low-scoring. They began with a 1-0 defeat at Brentford before taking a point at Everton and Sunderland. More recently, Unai Emery’s side came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Tottenham.
Having beaten Manchester City last weekend, there’s a chance that the Midlands side can engineer a positive result here. Form is strong even if there was a rare aberration away to Go Ahead Eagles in the Champions League when losing 2-1. Aside from that, there have been six victories and perhaps they’re capable of avoiding defeat in this clash.
Goals Under/Over
Over 2.5 Goals is regarded as a likely outcome by the bookmakers. Aside from a 1-0 victory over Arsenal, all other Anfield encounters have seen at least three goals scored. Liverpool rarely draw a blank in any of their games, with Over 2.5 actually happening in eight of the previous nine encounters in all competitions.
The Liverpool defence means that they’re unlikely to keep many clean sheets right now. That 3-2 defeat at the hands of Brentford really laid bare any defensive shortcomings and the visitors will be confident of having joy. However, Villa’s games have veered between Under and Over throughout the season. Even the Over 2.5 Goals games have generally been a 2-1 scoreline, so it’s not conclusive which way this match is going to go.
We would be leaning towards the Under 2.5 Goals odds considering that Liverpool might have to start adopting a more pragmatic attitude. A slender 1-0 victory would steady the ship and it’s a case of arresting the defensive issues.
BTTS
There has only been two Liverpool Premier League games where BTTS No has happened. That was in late August where Arsenal were defeated by a single goal before the Reds then headed to Turf Moor and came away with another 1-0 win. That has been as defensively strong as Arne Slot’s side have proved all campaign. Since then, it has been BTTS Yes all the way and the bookies regard this outcome as having a 62% probability this time around.
Aston Villa’s games have featured a lower number of goals. Unai Emery’s side have managed to find the net nine times in as many games. They have conceded eight times and will head to Anfield in search of a draw. In four away games, there have been three goals scored and three conceded.
When the teams met at Anfield last season, Liverpool came away with a 2-0 victory although a more recent clash between these sides saw a 2-2 scoreline happen. There was also a 3-3 draw in May 2004. Perhaps the best form of defence is attack and there will be hope that Mohamed Salah can build on his consolation goal at Brentford.
First Goalscorer
There’s no Liverpool player anywhere near the top of the Premier League scoring charts right now. Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah both have three goals apiece in the top flight and the latter returned to the scoresheet at the Gtech Stadium. The Egyptian is having a difficult time of things, although he still has seven on the board this term including three for his country.
Ekitike can’t be disregarded and he started the season like a train, with the Frenchman having bagged a goal in three straight games. He was also successful against Everton and Southampton before an untimely red card which has derailed his scoring achievements. However, he could end up getting back on track and was on the scoresheet away at former club Eintracht Frankfurt.
Before that game in west London last weekend, Cody Gakpo had scored in five consecutive matches and the Dutchman has been a more reliable source of goals than any other player in the Liverpool team. As far as Aston Villa is concerned, Ollie Watkins will lead the line although the goals can come from any number of sources.
Morgan Rogers might enjoy the chance to drive at the opposition defence and Emiliano Buendia has been able to find the net three times in the space of the last six clashes.