E fit be five wey go sweet or five wey go pain for Anfield this Saturday evening as Liverpool wey defence don dey leak go host Aston Villa wey dey hot inside Premier League.
The Red dem wey form don drop dey risk to lose five straight league matches for the first time for history, while Aston Villa dey chase their own fifth straight league win for the home of the defending champions.
Match Preview
That their 5–0 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt for Champions League bin look like say Liverpool don bounce back, but the truth be say their Premier League wahala still dey plenty.
After that bright night for Europe, Arne Slot boys don enter full-blown crisis mode again as Brentford beat dem for league and Crystal Palace commot dem for EFL Cup – even though na mainly second-string players and academy boys play that match.
Plenty Liverpool fans don dey para say Slot just abandon the EFL Cup, and if improvement no show quick against Aston Villa and Real Madrid, talk say him job dey on the line go loud well. Right now, Liverpool dey seventh for table – seven points behind league leaders Arsenal – and na 72 years don pass since dem last lose five league games in a row (that one na 1953). Even though na only one of their last six defeats happen for Anfield, e still show say the Reds don lose rhythm completely.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa dey move like team wey mean business. Unai Emery don turn dem to one of the most confident sides for Premier League. Since dem lose for opening weeks, the Lions don fire back with four straight league wins against Fulham, Burnley, Tottenham, and even Manchester City wey dem shock 1–0 thanks to Matty Cash goal. Right now, Villa dey just one place below Liverpool – na only goal difference separate dem.
Even though dem lose to Go Ahead Eagles for Europa League, that one no too matter because Emery rest key players. And as things be now, Villa don score for nine straight matches after starting season with four blanks. But history no dey their side when dem visit defending champions.
Aston Villa don lose all their last 11 Premier League away games against reigning champions and don only win one out of their last 30 such fixtures – that one na 1–0 win over Manchester United back in 2009.
And when you check Anfield record, Villa never win there since 2014 when Gabby Agbonlahor score the only goal. But based on current form, if dem wan break that jinx, this weekend na their best chance.
Liverpool Premier League Form:
L L L L L
Liverpool Form (All Competitions):
L W L L L
Aston Villa Premier League Form:
W W W W
Aston Villa Form (All Competitions):
W W W L
Team News
After the Palace defeat, Slot give one small good news say Ryan Gravenberch fit return from ankle injury in time for the weekend. But Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones (both groin) still far from return, while Alisson Becker (hamstring), Jeremie Frimpong (hamstring) and Giovanni Leoni (ACL) still dey unavailable.
Amara Nallo still dey serve suspension after him red card midweek, but e no go even make starting XI normally.
On a brighter note, Mohamed Salah go dey chase Premier League record again. Just one more goal or assist go make am equal Wayne Rooney’s 276 goal contributions for one club. Him current tally na 275 for Liverpool.
For Aston Villa side, Unai Emery no go fit use Harvey Elliott since na Liverpool own am, but the young man no even play against Man City last week. Emiliano Buendia go miss out after he pick foot injury, though no too serious. Youri Tielemans (calf) and Andres Garcia (unspecified) still dey out too. Buendia absence don open competition between Jadon Sancho and Donyell Malen for that forward role. Sancho replace Buendia last week but Emery sub am later because of fitness, not performance.
Liverpool Possible Starting Lineup:
Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike
Aston Villa Possible Starting Lineup:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Kamara; Malen, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins
We Say: Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa
Liverpool starters go enter this one fresh, but Aston Villa too no play midweek because dem don already comot for EFL Cup, so dem go come full of energy. The Lions dey play like the most in-form team for England right now, and with Liverpool defence still dey leak, e go hard to see dem keep clean sheet.
Even though nobody dey expect say Slot go chop sack immediately, him and him players sabi say this match na must-perform game. But based on how Liverpool defence don dey open anyhow, a draw still be the most likely result. Expect goals, drama, and wahala – na 2-2 we dey call am.
