By the time Wednesday night’s action wraps up, the gap between first and second in the Premier League could be a massive 10 points, should Liverpool manage to beat Aston Villa.
Arne Slot’s side hit the 60-point mark over the weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Wolves, while Villa had to settle for a frustrating 1-1 draw at home against struggling Ipswich Town.
After their dramatic Merseyside derby last week, Liverpool looked to be cruising to a comfortable win over Wolves at Anfield on Sunday. Luis Diaz’s bizarre opener and Mohamed Salah’s calm penalty had the Reds in control, but sloppy second-half passing nearly allowed Wolves back into the game.
Matheus Cunha’s stunning strike from 20 yards was a deserved reward for Wolves’ spirited efforts, but Liverpool held on to secure the three points, despite failing to register a shot on target in the second half—a first at Anfield in the Premier League.
That win helped Liverpool extend their seven-point lead over Arsenal, who have yet to play this week. If they take all three points on Wednesday, their advantage at the top could be in double figures, a significant gap with just a few months left in the season.
However, things get tougher for Liverpool after this midweek match. A tricky three-game stretch awaits them, including a trip to Manchester City on Sunday and a visit from Newcastle United on February 26.
For now, their focus is on improving their away form, which has been patchy with just two wins from their last seven across all competitions. On the bright side, they are still unbeaten away in the Premier League this season.
As for Villa, they extended their unbeaten streak at home to 12 matches in all competitions, but a disappointing 1-1 draw with 10-man Ipswich left a bitter taste. Even though Ipswich had a man sent off, Villa couldn’t make their dominance count, with Alex Palmer putting in a heroic performance in goal for the visitors.
Despite Villa’s dominance, they couldn’t find the winner, and their hopes of securing a top-four finish are looking increasingly slim. Currently sitting in ninth, they’re now six points behind Manchester City, who occupy the final Champions League spot.
Villa’s form has been underwhelming lately, with just two wins in their last seven across all competitions. Their struggles are even more concerning when you consider their inability to keep a clean sheet in any of their last eight home games.
To make matters worse, Villa’s run of poor results against Liverpool continued in November, when they lost 2-0 at Anfield, extending their winless streak against the Reds to nine matches. Their last victory over Liverpool was that unforgettable 7-2 win in 2020—before all the drama with David Coote went down.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Cody Gakpo missed Liverpool's win over Wolves after taking a heavy knock in the 4-4 draw with Everton, and manager Arne Slot is anxiously awaiting an update on whether his fellow Dutchman will be fit to face Aston Villa.
Two players who definitely won’t be available for the midweek clash are Tyler Morton (shoulder) and Joe Gomez (hamstring), but Curtis Jones returns from a suspension and could replace Dominik Szoboszlai as Slot navigates a jam-packed schedule over the next two weeks.
Darwin Nunez and Kostas Tsimikas could also see some rotation, but there’s no rest on the horizon for Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian is just one assist away from his 10th of the season away from home in the Premier League, a feat previously achieved by only Cesc Fabregas and Muzzy Izzet in a single campaign.
As for Villa, Unai Emery’s defensive woes continue. Boubacar Kamara had to come off early in the draw with Ipswich, and while Emery is hopeful it’s not a serious injury, it adds to his growing injury list. Kamara is now expected to join Pau Torres (ankle), Ross Barkley (calf), Ezri Konsa (unspecified), Amadou Onana (thigh), and Matty Cash (unspecified) on the sidelines. Leon Bailey is also a doubt after missing the weekend’s game.
On the bright side for Villa, Tyrone Mings has recovered from a minor knee issue and could fill in for Kamara at the back. Also, after impressing off the bench, Manchester United loanee Rashford may be in line for his first start.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Garcia, Mings, Disasi, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Ramsey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez
EXPERT PREDICTION
Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
