{"id":253903,"date":"2025-10-31T20:00:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:00:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/253903\/"},"modified":"2025-10-31T20:00:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:00:11","slug":"liverpool-vs-aston-villa-premier-league-teams-start-lineups-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/253903\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Premier League \u2013 teams, start, lineups | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Who: Liverpool vs Aston Villa
What: English Premier League
Where: Anfield in Liverpool, United Kingdom
When: Saturday, November 1 at 8pm (20:00 GMT)
How to follow: We\u2019ll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport<\/a> from 17:00 GMT in advance of our live text commentary stream.<\/p>\n

Liverpool boss Arne Slot badly needs his star names to get back on track after being dumped out of the League Cup by Crystal Palace on Wednesday to compound a miserable run for the Premier League champions.<\/p>\n

Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list<\/p>\n

Slot made his priorities clear by making 10 changes as Palace cruised to a 3-0 win at Anfield against a youthful Liverpool selection.<\/p>\n

It was the Reds\u2019 six defeats in seven games, and they have lost their last four in the Premier League following last Saturday\u2019s defeat at Brentford<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at their fixture against Aston Villa on Saturday as the pressure grows on the Anfield club.<\/p>\n

What is Liverpool manager Slot\u2019s take on the current run?<\/p>\n

Liverpool manager Arne Slot said his side must not make a habit of losing games they should win after six defeats in their last seven games plunged the Premier League champions into crisis.<\/p>\n

Slot\u2019s decision to name an inexperienced side for the 3-0 defeat to the Eagles drew criticism, but he again defended the need to give his key players a rest after a series of injury problems in the early part of the season.<\/p>\n

Slot had an eye not only on the visit of in-form Villa, but Real Madrid\u2019s trip to Anfield in the Champions League on Tuesday and Liverpool\u2019s clash with Manchester City next Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is nothing to do with the squad depth; it is how we\u2019ve gone throughout the season in terms of injuries and availability,\u201d said Slot at his pre-match news conference on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just the situation as it is. We have still more than enough good players available to play the game on Saturday, to play the game on Tuesday, and to play the game on Sunday, but I have to take care of a few of them, and that\u2019s why I made the decision not to play.\u201d<\/p>\n

How are Aston Villa faring as they head to Liverpool?<\/p>\n

Five games into the Premier League campaign, Villa trailed Liverpool by 12 points.<\/p>\n

But the two meet this weekend, separated only by goal difference as Unai Emery\u2019s men have hit form just as Liverpool\u2019s losing streak began.<\/p>\n

The Villas\u2019 winning run has extended to four matches, including notable scalps against Tottenham and City, to surge back into contention for the Champions League places.<\/p>\n

Slot cited Villa as an example to his side of how quickly things can change and the overall strength of the Premier League.<\/p>\n

How is the Premier League title race shaping up?<\/p>\n

Arsenal enjoy a four-point lead at the top of the table, but only three points separate second-placed Bournemouth from Villa in eighth.<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from Arsenal, I think many teams are in and around the same points, so again it tells you also how hard the Premier League is,\u201d added Slot.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormally, although with us the run is already quite long, you don\u2019t every time lose a game of football where you create more chances than the other team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey (Villa) decided not to make a habit out of that, and let\u2019s hope we decide not to make a habit out of having more chances than the opponent but not winning it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why did Slot make so many changes at Palace?<\/p>\n

The Dutchman said he could not risk any more injuries to his key players with the visit of Villa quickly followed by clashes against Real and City.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think it is possible if you lose six out of seven that there is even more pressure,\u201d said Slot. \u201cIf you are on a run of results like this, if you play for Liverpool, if you manage Liverpool, you know the pressure is there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Coming up this weekend! \ud83d\udc40\ud83d\udd1c<\/p>\n

Hear from the managers, watch our match previews, get @OfficialFPL<\/a> tips and more with Matchday Live \ud83d\udcf2 https:\/\/t.co\/9vCAWHd26I<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/lveEJFgiBX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Premier League (@premierleague) October 31, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Is Liverpool\u2019s form a crisis for the Premier League champions?<\/p>\n

The Reds have not kept a clean sheet for 10 games as Slot struggles to find the right balance for a side disrupted by a huge squad turnover during the transfer window.<\/p>\n

Liverpool spent a Premier League record near 450 million pounds ($590m), but crucially lost more players than they recruited, with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz particularly missed.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo see the champions lose four games in a row in the Premier League with the expenditure in the summer, I think we\u2019re in crisis time for Liverpool right now,\u201d said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.<\/p>\n

What happened the last time Liverpool faced Aston Villa?<\/p>\n

The last meeting between the pair came in the Premier League with the sides sharing a 2-2 draw at Villa Park in February.<\/p>\n

Mohamed Salah gave the Reds a 29th-minute lead, but Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins turned the game around by the break.<\/p>\n

Trent Alexander-Arnold, now with Real Madrid, levelled matters in the 61st minute.<\/p>\n

What happened in the corresponding fixture last season?<\/p>\n

The Premier League match at Anfield ended in a 2-0 win for the Reds in November.<\/p>\n

Darwin Nunez netted the opener in the 20th minute, while Mohamed Salah settled matters in the 84th.<\/p>\n

When did Aston Villa last beat Liverpool?<\/p>\n

Villa last defeated the Reds in October 2020 in a Premier League match at Villa Park. The home side recorded a 7-2 win \u2013 the third time they had hit the Reds for six or more goals in a single game. The first time was a 6-2 home win in the league in 1915, and the second was a 6-1 home win in the league in 1932.<\/p>\n

Liverpool have only ever hit Villa for six on one occasion \u2013 a 6-0 win at Villa Park in 2016.<\/p>\n

The Reds are unbeaten in the last 10 matches since that 2020 defeat, winning seven of those matches.<\/p>\n

When did Aston Villa last win at Liverpool?<\/p>\n

Villa\u2019s last win at Anfield came in 2014, with Gabriel Agbonlahor netting the only goal of the Premier League game in the ninth minute.<\/p>\n

It marked a second win in three visits to Anfield after a 3-1 Premier League victory in 2012 was recorded, thanks largely to former Reds\u2019 strikers Christian Benteke bagging a double.<\/p>\n

Andreas Weimann netted Villa\u2019s other goal, in between the Benteke brace, while Steven Gerrard scored a consolation for the home side in the 87th minute.<\/p>\n

Both games were part of a four-game unbeaten run for Villa at Anfield but the Midlands club have lost six of their last season\u2019s trips since then.<\/p>\n

Head-to-head<\/p>\n

This is the 206th meeting between the clubs, with Liverpool winning 103 matches and Villa emerging victorious on 59 occasions.<\/p>\n

Liverpool team news<\/p>\n

Ryan Gravenberch may return from his ankle injury in time for the visit of Villa.<\/p>\n

Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones both remain doubtful with groin problems, however, while Alisson Becker, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni are all definite absentees through injury.<\/p>\n

Amara Nallo is suspended following his sending off in midweek.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa team news<\/p>\n

Loanee Harvey Elliott is ineligible to face his parent club. Emiliano Buendia is a doubt with a foot injury, while Youri Tielemans (calf) and Andres Garcia (unspecified) have both been ruled out.<\/p>\n

Liverpool possible starting lineup<\/p>\n

Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Ekitike<\/p>\n

Aston Villa possible starting lineup<\/p>\n

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Kamara; Malen, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins<\/p>\n

Liverpool form (all competitions \u2013 latest game last):<\/p>\n

L-L-W-L-L<\/p>\n

Aston Villa form (all competitions):<\/p>\n

W-W-W-L-W<\/p>\n