The strain is on for Liverpool as they host Aston Villa and try to finish their four-match shedding run within the Premier League.
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa
Premier League (10) | AnfieldNovember 1, 2025 | 8pm (GMT)
Arne Slot‘s choice to subject a squad of kids within the Carabao Cup, which unsurprisingly led to defeat, has ramped up the need to beat Aston Villa at Anfield.
Earlier than the weekend’s fixtures, Liverpool are seven factors behind Arsenal and have to arrest their run of six losses in seven if they’re to maintain any faint hopes of a title problem alive.
1. Ryan Gravenberch needs to be match
There was optimistic and unfavorable harm information to emerge from Slot’s press convention, with updates forthcoming on Ryan Gravenberch, Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak.
Sadly, Slot mentioned he was “99.9 % positive” that the latter two gained’t be concerned.
Nevertheless, Gravenberch may very well be concerned after returning to group coaching on Thursday following two video games out with an ankle difficulty.
Alisson, Jeremie Frimpong, Jayden Danns and Stefan Bajcetic are all nonetheless absent as a result of hamstring accidents, whereas Giovanni Leoni stays out after ACL surgical procedure.
2. Staff choice
• READ: Liverpool FC lineup choices vs. Aston Villa – 10 modifications with Andy Robertson change
Slot’s group choice within the Carabao Cup can be utilized to foretell most of Liverpool’s beginning XI in opposition to Aston Villa.
Ten modifications are probably, with solely Andy Robertson or Milos Kerkez anticipated to maintain their place from Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat.
Giorgi Mamardashvili will return to play in objective, whereas a left-back needs to be joined by Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley in defence.
Dominik Szoboszlai will hopefully associate Gravenberch in midfield, with Florian Wirtz, Mo Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Cody Gakpo making up the remainder of the aspect.
Predicted XI: Mamardashvili; Bradley, Van Dijk, Konate, Robertson; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz; Salah, Gakpo, Ekitike
3. Aston Villa have proven tips on how to flip issues round
Aston Villa began the season in very poor kind, failing to win any of their opening six matches in all competitions.
They’ve since turned issues round, although, and final week’s 1-0 win over Man Metropolis noticed them catch as much as Liverpool with whom they’re now stage on 15 factors.
Supervisor Unai Emery mentioned: “It means the gamers and our efficiency tactically is turning into higher. The outcomes are higher than the primary month we performed within the Premier League.
“One thing we now have to keep away from now’s enjoyable as a result of we’re ready the place we’re feeling good, nevertheless it’s not sufficient.”
4. Emiliano Buendia dominated out for Aston Villa
Aston Villa are with out their left-winger, Emiliano Buendia, for this one. Emery dominated him out because of the Argentine’s harm picked up final weekend.
The guests may also be with out Andres Garcia and Youri Tielemans, the latter of whom Emery mentioned will “begin coaching hopefully subsequent week with the group.”
Harvey Elliott can be unable to play as a result of Liverpool are his father or mother membership.
5. Predicted Aston Villa XI
With out joint-top scorer Buendia, Jadon Sancho may begin his first Premier League recreation of the season on the left.
He’ll probably be joined in assault by Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, whereas John McGinn may begin because the right-winger however play extra of a midfield function in actuality.
The again 5 ought to keep the identical, with a defence of Matty Money, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Luca Digne beginning in entrance of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
Predicted XI: Martinez; Money, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Kamara, McGinn; Rogers, Sancho, Watkins
6. Arne Slot’s ideas on Liverpool’s weaknesses
Liverpool haven’t saved a clear sheet in any of their final 10 matches. Regardless of this, Slot doesn’t assume Liverpool have been too open in most video games lately.
“I don’t assume the story is, at the least for my part, that we concede likelihood after likelihood after likelihood and that we’re too open – it’s completely not like this,’ mentioned the Dutchman.
“Each single recreation possibly other than Palace, as a result of within the first half we may have been two or 3-0 down, and possibly the Brentford recreation, I feel all the opposite video games we deserved rather more than we acquired and we hardly conceded an opportunity.
“Even this week with the group that I put out which performed for the primary time collectively, I feel they solely conceded three large possibilities.”
7. Keep away from an undesirable document, Liverpool!
Liverpool have been final defeated in successive league video games at Anfield with followers in attendance in September 2012, with each Arsenal and Man United taking most factors.
The Reds haven’t misplaced 5 league matches in a row since 1953 – that’s over 71 years!
A draw or win would see Arne Slot attain 100 factors within the Premier League as head coach of Liverpool. He would tie Kenny Dalglish’s document of 100 factors in fewer video games than another Reds boss (48).
8. Who’s the referee?
The referee for Liverpool vs. Aston Villa will probably be Stuart Attwell, taking cost of the Reds for a twenty eighth time.
Attwell will probably be assisted at Anfield by Nick Hopton and Craig Taylor, whereas fourth official duties have been handed to Tom Bramall.
In the meantime in Stockley Park, Simon Hooper, who went off injured at half time in opposition to Brentford final weekend, is to tackle the function of video assistant referee. He will probably be assisted by Matthew Wilkes.
9. A troublesome begin for Harvey Elliott
• READ: Harvey Elliott disregarded of Aston Villa squad after Unai Emery’s blunt evaluation
As talked about, Elliott gained’t be capable to play in opposition to the Reds as he’s nonetheless contracted to Liverpool whereas on mortgage.
The 22-year-old left Anfield to play extra common soccer, however that hasn’t up to now materialised at Villa. Elliott has began simply as soon as within the league since shifting to the Midlands and is out of favour with the supervisor.
He should play 10 occasions for his mortgage to grow to be an obligation to purchase on the finish of the season, however for the time being it appears Emery isn’t a fan, giving the teen simply 167 minutes throughout six appearances up to now.
10. Comply with the match with TIA
Liverpool vs. Aston Villa is reside on TNT Sports activities 1 with kickoff at 8pm (GMT).
TIA’s matchday reside weblog will probably be up and operating from 7.15pm, with Harry McMullen tasked with holding you entertained and up-to-date.
Come on you Reds!
