Liverpool play hosts to Aston Villa come Saturday at Anfield with the Merseysiders on top form and hoping to pick up another win.
Jurgen Klopp’s men posted a 2-1 victory over Italian giants AC Milan on the midweek travels to San Siro with goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi assuring Liverpool of a 100% record in the Champions League group stage.
Despite a second-string XI on the show for the visitors to Italy, Liverpool were solid on all fronts to claim the three points from their final group game as they came from behind after AC Milan took the lead early on inside the opening period.
Star names such as Virgil van Dijk and the skipper Jordan Henderson will be in line for a return to the team sheet for Liverpool who will have an Anfield icon Steven Gerrard in the opposition camp for the forthcoming weekend.
The former Liverpool midfield maestro has taken over at Villa Park and with a superb start to his managerial life in England’s top flight, Jurgen Klopp and his players have a stern test awaiting them on home turf.
Liverpool had a thrilling outing last time around in Premier League football with the Reds banking on super-sub Divock Origi to find the winner in the final embers of stoppage time to gift his side the three points and move to second in the league table.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, lost out to the defending champions Manchester City in a closely contested affair with Steven Gerrard’s men sitting tenth in the standings on the back of an inspiring run of form under the new gaffer.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: 11 December 2021
Time: 3 PM GMT
Venue: Anfield
TEAM NEWS
Jurgen Klopp is not expected to call upon the likes of Roberto Firmino, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott who remain on the recovery table list with their spell on the sidelines.
Joe Gomez and Naby Keita came off the bench for Liverpool in the midweek game in Milan and are tipped to make the matchday squad for the upcoming fixture.
Diogo Jota was not a part of the midweek squad entirely and would be in the fray to make the team sheet in the central striking role.
KEY BATTLE
Sadio Mane vs Danny Ings
Mane has been kept quiet of late in front of the goal and the Senegalese will for hope to get firing for his side in the final third against the Villa backline.
For the visitors to Anfield, it is the ex-Liverpool striker Danny Ings who can prove to be a real menace for the Virgil van Dijk-Joel Matip pairing in the heart of the defence.
MATCH PREDICTION
Liverpool are strongly backed as the favourites when they take on Aston Villa over the weekend in what should be an easy three points for the home side.
