Aston Villa FC
Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC
Improved Villa in a free-hit situation against title favourites Liverpool
Liverpool to win 3-1
Aston Villa are understandably delighted with their start to the new league season, with two wins from two games.
Of course, two wins don’t automatically prevent a team from avoiding a relegation battle for a second successive season, but it’s a step in the right direction.
It also takes the pressure off this game for them. They’re not expected to win, or even take a point, so they can come into the match and approach it with a free-hit mentality. Anything they gain is a bonus.
As for Liverpool, the unstoppable force just keeps rolling on. They were impressive as they dismissed Arsenal in their first big test last weekend and have beaten teams like Villa will ease over the past couple of seasons.
On paper, this looks like a formality. Villa can certainly cause a shock if Liverpool aren’t at it, but it’s unlikely for sure.
Form Guide (all comps): WWWWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Well-balanced team playing good football
Consecutive clean sheets so far
Reasons to be fearful:
Lost five successive games against Liverpool
Haven’t played a top team yet
Villa have been impressive in their four wins in the league and cup so far this season.
Captain Jack Grealish has been in good form, new signings have settled in well and they’ve looked like scoring goals while keeping things tight at the back.
Unfortunately for Villa, their two league wins come against teams currently placed 19th and 20th and their two cup wins against teams from lower divisions.
Liverpool is their only real test so far – and what a test it will be. The Reds are going all guns blazing for their second consecutive league title and if Villa are not at their absolute best, they could get rolled over.
New loan signing Ross Barkley will add some quality to their midfield, but their unlikely to see too much of the ball against Liverpool’s famed pressing system.
Whatever the result, it won’t take away from what has been a good start to Villa’s season
Star Man – Jack Grealish
He’s still Villa’s main man, but the pressure is lifted now that their new signings are sharing the load.
Form Guide (all comps): WWWWL
Reasons to be cheerful
Continue to go from strength to strength
Their squad depth is now incredible
Reasons to be fearful
Henderson is a doubt while Thiago has Covid-19
Villa could spring a surprise if they are complacent
Liverpool are aiming to become the first team in Premier League history to win their first four matches in three consecutive seasons against Villa this weekend.
If not for Man City winning the league before Liverpool last season, who knows how many trophies Jurgen Klopp’s team could have racked up by now?
They will likely be without their captain Jordan Henderson this weekend through injury, while new signing Thiago will again miss out after contracting coronavirus.
After resting most of their stars for the midweek cup game against Arsenal, the first team regulars will be chomping at the bit once again this weekend.
Villa are in good form and could punish Liverpool if they are sloppy. However, that is so rarely the case these days and most fans are expecting a comfortable win.
Star Man – Sadio Mane
The Senegal international is in absolutely incredible form at the moment, scoring three of Liverpool’s last six goals.
Liverpool will have most of the possession and plenty of chances
Sadio Mane and Mo Salah likely to get on the scoresheet
Villa could pinch a goal through Grealish or Watkins
Liverpool will comfortably win most of their games this season, regardless of the team put in front of them.
That’s no disrespect to Villa, it’s just the squad which Jurgen Klopp has built around him at Anfield over the past few seasons.
If Liverpool are fully on their game, this could be a comfortable win by a margin of several goals, though Villa could keep it tighter than many are expecting.
Anything would be a bonus for Villa, but they will have more important games this season.
Liverpool to win 3-1
