Seven points separate Premier League leaders Liverpool and sixth-placed Aston Villa going into Saturday’s clash at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa predicted lineups
Liverpool (4-2-1-3): Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Nunez, Diaz.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Konsa, Torres, Carlos, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Ramsey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
The Reds have extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches in all competitions after a thumping 4-0 Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek.
Villa, meanwhile, have not won any of their last four matches (one draw and three defeats) and have the worst defensive record of the sides in the top half of the Premier League, having conceded 15 goals in 10 league games.
The game kicks off at 8pm, live on TNT Sports 1.
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Salah has Henry in his sights
Mo Salah’s winning goal against Brighton last week saw the Egyptian star leapfrog Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler into eighth on the Premier League’s list of record goalscorers.
It’s now 164 and counting for Egyptian, who has already bagged seven league goals this season.
With Salah on penalty duty for the Reds – and sometimes taking set-pieces around the box – he again looks capable of challenging Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot this term.
The 32-year-old will also feel he can overtake Thierry Henry on the all-time list before the season is out, with the former Arsenal star 11 goals ahead on 175. Ex-Chelsea star Frank Lampard, who registered 177 Premier League goals in his career, is another legend in Salah’s sights.
Salah has scored seven times in previous meetings against Villa, including the final goal in 3-0 home victory over the Villans last term.
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At the other end of the pitch, England striker Ollie Watkins will be looking to end a run of five games without a goal.
The former Brentford frontman has notched five league strikes this term with his last top-flight goal coming in the 3-1 win at Fulham in mid-October.
Watkins’ last goal at Anfield came back in 2021, when he opened the scoring before Liverpool came back to win 2-1 in stoppage time.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa team news
Arne Slot says Alisson, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott won’t return to the squad until after November’s international break.
That means Caoimhin Kelleher will continue in goal for the Reds while Darwin Nunez is expected to start up front having been among the substitutes against Bayer Leverkusen in midweek.
Scotland skipper Andy Robertson was also named on the bench for the visit of the German champions and could return at left-back.
Federico Chiesa has been sidelined for a month and, although he is making progress, Saturday’s game is likely to come too soon for the Italy international.
Matty Cash suffered a calf injury in Aston Villa’s defeat to Tottenham last weekend and is expected to miss the trip to Anfield. Ezri Konsa is tipped to fill in at right-back.
Ross Barkley is another injury absentee for the visitors and is not expected to return until the end of November.