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After securing an emphatic two-legged victory over Hibernian to secure their spot in the group stages of the Europa Conference League, Aston Villa is now gearing up for a high-stakes clash against Liverpool at Anfield in this Sunday's Premier League showdown.
In their recent midweek encounter, the Lions displayed their dominance by sealing an impressive 8-0 aggregate victory against Hibernian, their Scottish counterparts. Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, despite playing with only 10 players, managed to stun Newcastle United with a 2-1 victory in their last weekend's match at St James' Park.
Liverpool, led by Jurgen Klopp, faced a challenging situation as they almost lost one more player when Trent Alexander-Arnold was in a questionable position on the field. However, they managed to pull off a late victory, reminiscent of their performance in August 2022, to dash Eddie Howe's hopes.
While Fabio Carvalho took the spotlight last season, the super-sub Darwin Nunez emerged as the hero in the recent match, scoring a brilliant brace off the bench. This victory not only extended Liverpool's unbeaten run at the start of the new season but also marked Klopp's 11th consecutive win against Eddie Howe, setting an all-time Premier League record for a manager against a single opponent.
Liverpool currently occupies the fourth spot in the Premier League, having earned seven points from their first three matches this season. Their impressive run includes nine wins and five draws in their last 14 league matches since their 4-1 loss to Manchester City.
Furthermore, Liverpool's unbeaten Premier League streak at Anfield extends to 13 matches, with their last defeat occurring against Leeds United in October. However, considering that Liverpool has both scored and conceded in each of their last five games, Aston Villa will likely aim to match them in terms of offensive prowess.
In contrast to Liverpool, Aston Villa struggled to contain Newcastle during their first match of the season at St James' Park. However, they appear to have learned from their 5-1 defeat and have since embarked on a remarkable four-match winning streak, netting an impressive 15 goals. Matty Cash's standout performance with a double, along with Moussa Diaby's contribution, led Villa to a 3-1 victory over Burnley in their recent match at Turf Moor.
In addition to their domestic success, Aston Villa breezed through the Europa Conference League qualifying playoff against Hibs, securing a 3-0 win in the second leg, which followed a 5-0 triumph in the first leg. They are now set to face AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warsaw, and Zrinjski Mostar in the group stages.
However, Aston Villa faces a concerning trend of failing to keep a clean sheet in any of their last seven Premier League away matches.
Despite their defensive challenges, Aston Villa managed to hold Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Anfield last season, breaking Liverpool's five-game winning streak against them since the memorable 7-2 victory behind closed doors.
Liverpool enters this game on the back of consecutive wins against Bournemouth and Newcastle United, instilling confidence in their ability to secure another positive result at home.
On the other hand, Aston Villa has rebounded from a shaky start to the season with consecutive wins against Everton and Burnley. Additionally, their impressive performance in the UEFA Europa Conference League playoffs against Hibernian has boosted their confidence.
Aston Villa boasts a strong squad following the summer transfer window and has the potential to challenge any opponent. While Liverpool appears stronger on paper, this encounter promises to be closely contested, and the outcome remains uncertain.
Notably, Liverpool will be without Thiago Alcantara due to a groin injury, with his return now delayed until the international break. Virgil van Dijk received a red card in the match against Newcastle United and will also be absent. Ibrahima Konate is not expected to be fit for the game.
In terms of formation, Liverpool is likely to adopt a 4-3-3 setup, with Alisson Becker in goal, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson as full-backs, and Joel Matip and Joe Gomez as central defenders. Wataru Endo will play as the defensive midfielder, supported by Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai as box-to-box midfielders, aiming to provide creativity and control for the team.
