Liverpool will face Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday in the Premier League. The Reds are looking to secure their third consecutive win but will be without their captain, Virgil van Dijk, who received a red card in their previous match against Newcastle United. Another key defender, Ibrahima Konaté, will also miss the game due to injury. This leaves Jürgen Klopp with just two senior defenders, Joël Matip and Joe Gomez, available for selection.
Ryan Gravenberch, who recently joined Liverpool, will not be ready to play on Sunday, so fans will have to wait another week to see him in action. Aston Villa has had a hectic schedule with two additional games against European Conference opponents. They have managed to keep three clean sheets in their five matches, while Liverpool is yet to achieve a clean sheet this season. Both teams have been involved in high-scoring games, with one team scoring at least three goals in each match.
Liverpool has a tendency to concede early goals, which could make for an interesting clash against Aston Villa’s strong counter-attacking style. Philippe Coutinho will be absent for Villa due to a thigh injury. The predicted Liverpool lineup includes Alisson in goal, with Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Matip, and Robertson in defense. The midfield is expected to feature Mac Allister, Endo, and Szoboszlai. The attacking trio could consist of Salah, Núñez, and Diaz. Thiago Alcantara is still injured but Curtis Jones might be available on the bench.
For Aston Villa, Emi Buendia, Tyrone Mings, Jacob Ramsey, and Coutinho will all miss the game. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and Alex Moreno’s fitness will be assessed before the match.
In their pre-match comments, Klopp praised Aston Villa’s counter-attacking ability, describing them as a “machine.” Emery emphasized the need for his team to be competitive and face Liverpool collectively and tactically.
The match will be officiated by referee Simon Hooper, with assistance from Adrian Holmes and Simon Long. VAR will be used, with Darren England as the VAR official and Timothy Wood as the assistant VAR.
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