Liverpool vs Aston Villa verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
- George Dempsey
- 19 May 2023
Liverpool will be aiming to keep the pressure on the Premier League’s top four when they host Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.
Fifth-placed Liverpool are just one point behind Newcastle and Manchester United in the table as the race for the Champions League places hots up.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Saturday May 20, Kick-off 3pm
Predicted score
Suggested bets
Liverpool to win by one goal margin
Under 3.5 goals
Both teams to score
Key stats
Liverpool have a super record against Aston Villa, winning nine of their previous 10 Premier League meetings.
Liverpool are on a winning streak of seven matches, scoring 20 goals and keeping a clean sheet in their last three.
Aston Villa have struggled in their final away game of the Premier League season, winning just two of 20.
Aston Villa have struggled to score multiple goals on their travels, netting twice in just five of 13 Premier League away matches.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa team news
Thiago Alcantara (groin) is out for the season after undergoing surgery. Calvin Ramsay (knee) and Stefan Bajcetic (groin) are unavailable, but Naby Keita, Roberto Firmino and Darwin Nunez will all be assessed before the game.
Aston Villa will be without Jed Steer (calf) and most probably Philippe Coutinho (muscle) for the trip to Anfield. Coutinho was on the comeback trail but suffered a 'small injury' according to head coach Unai Emery.
Verdict
Champions League chasers Liverpool will welcome the Premier League's surprise package, Aston Villa, to Anfield on Saturday afternoon. Both sides are still in the hunt for European football.
Liverpool's 3-0 win at Leicester extended their current winning run to seven Premier League matches. The Reds' current mood was encapsulated by Jurgen Klopp's ferocious fist-pumping at full-time.
Few people expected Unai Emery to take over at Aston Villa and transform them in the way he has. The Villans are eighth in the Premier League but a win could see them jump as high as sixth.
While the visitors are unbeaten in 11 of 13 and put together their own winning streak of five matches through March and April, they have lost their last two away matches to Wolves and Manchester United.
Both of these sides have been on a rollercoaster ride this season but when one of the top four teams finds a winning rhythm, it's very hard for teams outside of the clique to disrupt it.
Even during their darkest times this season, it's worth noting Liverpool were never poor at home. Real Madrid and Leeds United remain the only two teams to win at Anfield, where the Reds have won 13 of 18 Premier League matches.
Villa's list of victims on their travels isn't exactly a who's who of the Premier League. A 2-1 win at Brighton is the standout result on paper, but it wasn't until after that game the Seagulls turned a corner.
Liverpool have averaged close to three goals a game at home since January, but three consecutive clean sheets reflect their return to form at the back.
For all their attacking ability, Villa have scored more than once on just five occasions on their travels. Three of those games were against weaker teams in Leicester, Chelsea and Everton.
We think Liverpool look organised enough to control their remaining games and pick up the points they need, but it wouldn't be a shock to see Aston Villa score and make it interesting.
