Liverpool FC vs Aston Villa FC, Premier League 2022-2023, Today Match Prediction

Liverpool FC vs Aston Villa FC Match Prediction & Analysis

Liverpool made short work of Leicester City in their most recent game, brushing aside the relegation battling Foxes in a 3-0 victory.

Jurgen Klopp’s men are purring right now and are ready to pounce should Manchester United or Newcastle slip up in their remaining games. The top four is still within their reach if so.

Still, with two games remaining, this is their trickiest test, against an Aston Villa team that have won many games and many plaudits since Unai Emery took over at the end of 2022.

Villa won their most recent game, seeing off Tottenham 2-1, after losing their previous two before it. It’s been a slightly more inconsistent spell for Emery’s men of late, and they sit in 8th.

It’s a spot that’s outside the European places, and they would need to climb above either Tottenham or Brighton to provide their fans with continental football next season.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Liverpool FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful:

     Won nine of their last 10 home games against Villa 

     Six straight league victories

Reasons to be fearful:

     Haven’t played a team as good as Villa during this winning run

     Only scored one goal in each of their last two home games

Liverpool’s faithful fanbase must have been wondering where this level of performance has been hiding all season.

Jurgen Klopp has gotten a tune out of these Liverpool players as the season draws to a close, but only time will tell whether it’s enough to see them scrape into the top four at the end of it.

They need to continue their winning run here, although this is likely to be the most difficult game they’ve had in some time. 

Not since Arsenal, six weeks ago, have Liverpool played a team in such good form as Villa, so they’ll need to be at the top of their game to win here.

That said, they have an excellent record over Villa, winning each of their last four at Anfield and nine of their last 10 going back further.

Star Man – Mo Salah

Salah just loves scoring at Anfield, having done so in his last nine appearances at home. You wouldn’t bet against him leading Liverpool to yet another victory here.

Aston Villa FC Preview

Reasons to be cheerful

     Watkins has a great record against Villa 

     Emery often has the right tactics for the big games

Reasons to be fearful

     Scored just two goals from their last three games

     No wins from any of their last three away matches

Aston Villa know that if they achieve European football for next season, they will have deserved it.

By the time the season finishes, they will have played each of their top eight rivals in the space of two months, with Liverpool and Brighton their final tests.

It’s a tough ask, what with Brighton having games in hand and Tottenham having two more straightforward games against Brentford and Leeds. You feel that Villa will need at least four points to have a chance.

While Emery is a master tactician, and often seems to come up with a successful plan against the bigger clubs, you wonder how they’ll get anything out of this game. 

Villa’s record against Liverpool is poor and their opponents are in such good form right now.

Star Man – Ollie Watkins

Watkins has enjoyed playing against Liverpool so far in his career, even if his team usually comes up on the losing side. He has five goals against the Reds so far.