Liverpool continue their Premier League title charge with a difficult trip to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa on Wednesday, February 19th, at 7:30pm (UK time).
[dugoutvideo id=”eyJrZXkiOiIiLCJwIjoic3F1YXdrYSIsInBsIjoiSGEzWngzaDUifQ==” partner=”squawka”]
Both teams to score, Alexis Mac Allister over 1.5 fouls & Morgan Rogers over 1.5 fouls (15/4 with BetMGM)
Goals have been forthcoming at Villa Park recently. The last eight matches at this ground in all competitions have seen both teams find the net and given that Liverpool have looked a little less secure defensively of late it’s no surprise that they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in their last three games. Away from home, Alexis Mac Allister adopts a slightly more defensive role and as a result, the Argentinian has given away at least two fouls in each of his last seven appearances on the road. We’re combining him for two plus fouls with Morgan Rogers doing the same. The Villains youngster is all-action and that’s led to him giving a high number of free-kicks away lately – he’s made at least one foul in each of his last seven games and made a total of 13 in his last four.
Over 0.5 goals in the first 15 minutes (6/4 with CopyBet)
Early goals have been a feature of games involving either Aston Villa or Liverpool of late. The Villains took the lead after just three minutes against Celtic in the Champions League earlier this month and went a goal up against Tottenham after just 57 seconds in the FA Cup. Two of their last three Premier League games have also seen a goal scored in the first 15 minutes. Liverpool meanwhile have scored within 16 minutes in three of their last four games, and they’ve also conceded one goal in that time in their Merseyside Derby draw with Everton. In the last meeting between these sides at this stadium, two goals had been scored before the 13 minute mark.
How both teams go into Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Aston Villa’s campaign has not been comfortable as they try to balance Champions League qualification with replicating last season’s top-four finish. Currently, they sit in ninth place although they remain just six points away from the top four despite a disappointing home draw with Ipswich Town at the weekend. Consistency has been Villa’s biggest issue, having won only two of their last eightPremier League matches, both against teams in the bottom five (Leicester City and Everton). Liverpool, for all the comfort of their league position, have experienced a couple of wobbles of their own of late. After 25 league matches, they have a seven-point lead over second-place Arsenal. Under the management of Arne Slot, the Reds have not lost a Premier League match in 19 games however they were held to a 2-2 draw with Merseyside rivals Everton last week thanks to a dramatic James Tarkowski equaliser and they were not confident in hanging onto a 2-1 victory over Wolves on Sunday. Slot won’t be worried about seeing that comfortable lead slip away just yet, but he will be keen for his team to bounce back to form with a win on Wednesday night.
Aston Villa team news
Aston Villa are stacked with injuries at the moment and Pau Torres, Ross Barkley, Amadou Onana will be joined in the treatment room by Boubacar Kamaraa who was withdrawn in the early stages of the draw with Ipswich at the weekend. Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa and Leon Bailey will all face late fitness tests, although Unai Emery’s defensive worries may be eased by the potential return of Tyrone Mings. Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford could be in line for his first start for the club.
Liverpool team news
Cody Gakpo was missing for Liverpool’s win over Wolves at the weekend and the Dutchman is likely to miss out again here. There could be further changes to the team too as Slot looks to rotate his squad after a packed schedule in recent weeks. Curtis Jones returns from suspension, but Joe Gomez will miss out with a hamstring problem.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool head-to-head
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last nine meetings with Aston Villa (seven wins and two draws). The last match between the two sides at Villa Park was an absolute thriller, ending 3-3 in the latter stages of the 2023/2024 Premier League campaign.
| Aston Villa vs Liverpool H2H | |||||||
| Date | Score | Ground | |||||
| 09 Nov 2024 | Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa | Villa Park | |||||
| 13 May 2024 | Aston Villa 3-3 Liverpool | Villa Park | |||||
| 03 Sep 2023 | Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa | Anfield | |||||
| 20 May 2023 | Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa | Anfield | |||||
| 26 Dec 2022 | Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool | Villa Park | |||||