Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool resume their top-flight duties with a Boxing Day trip to Aston Villa as the Reds seek a return to winning ways following a return to competitive football since the World Cup break.
Liverpool were last seen in the 3-2 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester City in the EFL Cup fourth-round clash at the Etihad with the cup holders sent crashing out of the competition in a thrilling contest.
Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah were the scorers in the Liverpool shirt while City found the back of the net through their star pairing Erling Haaland and Riyad Mahrez before Nathan Ake nodded past Caoimhin Kelleher to seal the result for his side.
The Merseysiders, on the road next to Villa Park as they renew the challenge for a top-four finish in the Premier League, would be on the search for the three points against the home side Aston Villa who under the new manager, Unai Emery, picked up two wins on the trot against Manchester United and Brighton last month.
Liverpool sit sixth in the league table ahead of the Premier League’s restart and Klopp’s injury hit squad, despite their struggles early on this campaign, put out a decent run of showings heading into the World Cup break.
An interesting stat, one which would provide comfort to the visitors Liverpool, is that Villa have lost eight of their last nine meetings with Liverpool in top flight action with the exception being that 7-2 win on the Anfield giants back in October 2020.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Monday 26 December 2022
Time: 7 PM GMT
Venue: Villa Park
TEAM NEWS
A fresh injury concern piled up for Liverpool in the aftermath of the defeat to City with James Milner sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Roberto Firmino sat out the game on Thursday night and the Brazilian is not expected to return to the fold in time for the Boxing Day clash at Villa Park.
Curtis Jones, Arthur, Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota remain injury-enforced absentees for the Reds and will not be in the mix for selection on Monday.
KEY BATTLE
Danny Ings vs Mohamed Salah
Aston Villa will depend upon the ex-Liverpool frontman Danny Ings to make the difference in the final third of the pitch where Unai Emery’s side lacks the creative brilliance of another former Red Philippe Coutinho who is sidelined with thigh trouble.
Liverpool’s hopes of grabbing a win on their return to league football will rest heavily on the shoulders of talisman Mo Salah with the Egyptian arguably the main man in the front line for Jurgen Klopp’s men as Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz remain injured.
Salah was on the scoresheet in the loss to City in the EFL Cup contest at the Etihad and the winger will be looking to carry on his rich vein of form when he faces Villa.
MATCH PREDICTION
Despite Liverpool’s inconsistent form over the course of this season, the visitors to Villa Park are tipped as the favourites against a Villa side who have rediscovered themselves since Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in the dugout.
Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
