Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Top-four rivals face off at Anfield – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
Liverpool welcome Aston Villa to Anfield this weekend for an early-season top-four clash.
The Reds and Villa are likely to be competing for a spot in the Champions League next year and the Villans head to Merseyside in great form.
Darwin Nunez stunned St James’ Park with a double to secure a 2-1 win for ten-man Liverpool over Newcastle.
Unai Emery’s men have won their last four in all competitions and have scored 15 goals, conceding just one in the process.
Meanwhile, the Reds can take great confidence from their incredible win with ten men over Newcastle at St James’ Park.
They actually have the longest unbeaten run in the top-flight and are starting to click under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Date and how to follow
This Premier League clash is set to take place on Sunday, September 3.
Kick-off at Anfield is scheduled for 2pm.
Unfortunately, this fixture will not be televised on UK screens.
However, highlights will be available on the Sky Sports website and app shortly after the end of the match and then later on Match of the Day.
talkSPORT will have updates throughout the afternoon and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Team news
The hosts are without Ibrahima Konate and Thiago Alcantara.
Curtis Jones is fully fit and could be in the matchday squad.
But Ryan Gravenberch wasn’t registered to play in time.
Meanwhile, long-term absentees Tyrone Mings and Emi Buendia are out.
Jacob Ramsey and Philippe Coutinho are also going to sit this one out but should be close to a return after the international break.
Emiliano Martinez and Alex Moreno face late fitness tests.
Gravenberch won’t be involved for the Reds this weekendGetty
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: What has been said?
Liverpool boss Klopp has requested that fans stop singing his song during games and save it for after as he wants the supporters to focus on the players.
He said: “During games I want all of the support to go to the players. I want them to feel your backing and I want you to urge them on and keep them on their toes.
“I know it is not for me to tell you when you should sing which song, so this is just a polite request.”
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Match facts
Liverpool have won nine of their last 11 Premier League games against Aston Villa, with the exceptions being a 7-2 loss at Villa Park in October 2020, and a 1-1 draw in this exact fixture last season. Only Manchester United (12) and Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League away games against Liverpool than Aston Villa (6), though the Villans are winless in their last five league visits to Anfield (D1 L4).
Liverpool have won their last two Premier League matches despite conceding first in both games, winning 3-1 against Bournemouth and 2-1 against Newcastle. Since Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge, the Reds have the most wins after conceding first (35) and points gained from losing positions (135) of any Premier League side.
After losing 5-1 to Newcastle in their first Premier League game this season, Aston Villa have won their last two, scoring seven goals and conceding just once. They are the first top-flight side to lose their opening game by 4+ goals and then win their next two games since QPR in 1986-87.
After failing to score in four of their first seven Premier League games in 2023, Liverpool have scored in all but two of their last 18, netting the most goals of any side since the start of March (43). Only Brighton (19) and Spurs (15) are on a longer run of consecutive scoring games than the Reds (13).
Liverpool have received a red card in each of their last two Premier League games, last doing so in three in a row in September-October 1999 against Leicester (David Thompson), Everton (Sander Westerveld and Steven Gerrard) and Aston Villa (Steve Staunton). They are the first side to win consecutive games while receiving a dismissal since Watford in January 2020.
Matty Cash’s second goal against Burnley last time out ended a 19-pass move, the most before an Aston Villa goal in the Premier League that Opta has on record (2006-07 onwards). The Villans are averaging 14.3 sequences of 10+ passes in open play per game this season, just over six more than they were last season (8.2).
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in at least one goal in his last nine Premier League appearances (4 goals, 7 assists), assisting Darwin Núñez’s winning goal at Newcastle. At home he’s scored or assisted in 10 consecutive games – the last player to do so in more consecutive home appearances was Thierry Henry for Arsenal between November 2002 and October 2003 (17 games).
Darwin Núñez scored Liverpool’s 42nd 90th minute winning Premier League goal in their 2-1 win at Newcastle United, the most of any club in the competition’s history. Since the start of last season, Núñez is averaging the most shots (4.55) and most shots on target per 90 minutes (2.02) of any Premier League player (min. 500 minutes played).
Moussa Diaby has been involved in three goals in his first three Premier League appearances for Aston Villa (2 goals, 1 assist), scoring in both of his away games at Newcastle and Burnley. Only five players have scored in their first three away Premier League appearances, most recently Erling Haaland last season.
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On Sunday evening, Premier League top-four rivals Liverpool and Aston Villa face off at Anfield in a crunch clash.
The Merseyside giants have dropped out of serious title contention after a season peppered with inconsistency, and their defeat at the hands of Arsenal last week has left them in fifth and needing a morale-boosting victory to kick themselves back into gear.
For Aston Villa, a win would solidify their European aspirations. Sitting eighth on the table, Dean Smith’s side have notched up plenty of impressive results this season and will be looking to carry that momentum into this game.
The match is due to kick off at 6:30pm (BST) and is available to watch on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League UK.
Jurgen Klopp is likely to return to a 4-3-3 system after opting for a back three in the defeat to Arsenal. A positive is the return of captain Jordan Henderson, who missed the Arsenal loss due to suspension. The back four is expected to remain unchanged, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ozan Kabak, Fabinho and Andy Robertson in charge at the back. Naby Keita, Henderson, and Curtis Jones are likely to make up the midfield.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s European ambitions could be given a boost by the return of one of their star forwards. Jack Grealish, Ollie Watkins and Bertrand Traore have all been tipped to feature this evening.
Fans can follow the game on social media using the hashtag #LIVAVL, or via Liverpool’s official Twitter or Facebook accounts.
A win for either team could yet have a bearing on the race for European places, and kick either into the top four.