Aston Villa has all to play for in the upcoming game tonight vs the Merseyside team, Liverpool FC. Jurgen Klopp’s team all but imploded a few weeks ago – they were in direct title contention but suffered surprising losses to Crystal Palace, succumbed to player-coach arguments, and lost crucial form just as the going got tough.
On the other hand, Aston Villa is looking to maintain a spot in the top four in the Premier League by toppling Klopp’s team and securing a place in next year’s Champions League. Can they stand the pressure and be a part of European football next year, or will Salah and the Reds provide an upset and end their season on a more positive note?
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Preview
Aston Villa
The Clarets will hope to get three points in the bag tonight vs. Liverpool so they can secure a pot for their squad next year in the coveted CL competition. They were recently kicked out of the Europa Conference League following a surprising mid-week loss, so they are out for vengeance to partake in European football in any way they can.
Spurs are close on their tail to getting a spot for European football – but, they are four points off of Villa’s scores, meaning a win from the Clarets here can all but secure a place for them heading into next year.
Liverpool
On the other hand, while Villa has all to play for, Liverpool has very little left to play for. They were once in title contention for the 2023-2024 Premier League trophy with City and Arsenal, but a string of poor results and lack of consistency have abolished that dream. They are officially out of the title race but have secured a top-three spot for Jurgen Klopp’s last reign as Liverpool manager.
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool: Head-to-Head
"Each day is going to be very important."
Mister with an update on Nicolò Zaniolo, Youri Tielemans and Álex Moreno. 🗞️
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 12, 2024
In the last five matchups between the Reds and Clarets, Liverpool is looking more dangerous. LFC have won four out of the last five games, with one of the tense battles ending in a well-earned draw.
Currently, in all competitions, Aston Villa have only won one out of their last five games, coming against Bournemouth at the beginning of April. Their recent losses to Olympiacos in the Europa League, and a tense draw against Chelsea, might mean they are low in confidence going into tonight’s match.
For Liverpool, they have won three out of their last five games, scoring four last week against Spurs. This big win could see them go into tonight’s game with a goal-scoring mindset.
Also Read: Mason Greenwood’s Getafe Glory: Goals Galore and a Lucrative Loan Impact 2024
Aston Villa vs Liverpool: Probable Starting Lineups
Aston Villa lineup (4-4-2): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Bailey, Iroegbunam, Luiz, McGinn; Diaby, Watkins.
Liverpool lineup (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott, Endo, Mac Allister; Salah, Gakpo, Diaz.
Injury Report
A few key players are back for selection after being out for many weeks, like Zaniolo and Tielemans – a creative midfielder from Leicester City who has been injured for crucial games this season. However, despite a few players back for selection, Villa is still missing big-name squad members like Rogers, Kamara, and Mings.
For the Reds, Liverpool don’t have too many injuries to worry about – unlike the previous nine months of their season. Currently, Jiota, Matip, and Thiago are unavailable for selection.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
