Aston Villa travel to Anfield this afternoon to play against one of the best forwards in England. Saurez has already scored 24 goals this season and is on target to breaking the Premier League goal tally record for the season. Can the Villa defence stop him this afternoon? Their job could be made more difficult with Sturridge recently returning from injury. He scored in last weeks 5-2 victory against Stoke. While Liverpool rejoice, Aston Villa are currently in mid-table and not in the best of form, winning only 1 from their last 7 games.
Paul Lambert has brought in two players on loan this week, Grant Holt joins from Wigan and Ryan Bertrand joins from Chelsea. Both are available and in the squad for today’s game.
Team News:
Liverpool will welcome back Sakho and Joe Allen after missing the last three games through injury. Defenders Joe Flanagan, Jose Enrique, Daniel Agger are all injured.
Holt and Bertrand are available for Aston Villa following their loan signings this week. Nathan Baker will miss out with a concussion that was obtained in last Mondays game against Arsenal.
Match Facts:
Liverpool won the reverse fixture against Villa back in August with their only shot on target of the game.
Christian Benteke has scored three goals in three Premier League appearances against Liverpool.
Aston Villa have lost just one of their last four Premier League visits to Anfield (W2 D1 L1).
Luis Saurez has scored 22 goals in 16 appearances this season – he had 10 after 16 games last season and five the season before.
No team has conceded fewer home goals than Liverpool this season in the Premier League (6).
Predicted Lineups:
Mignloet
Johnson-Sakho-Toure-Cissokho
Gerrard-Lucas
Henderson——–Coutinho
Saurez-Sturridge
Agbonlahor-Benteke
Bacuna
Delph-Westwood-El Ahmadi
Bertrand-Clark-Vlaar-Lowton
Guzan
Match Prediction:
Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa
This was a great game last season, Aston Villa played 5 at the back yet somehow won the game 3-1. Can we see a repeat this weekend? I highly doubt it. Liverpool are in phenomenal form. If our defence can stop Saurez and Sturridge then we may have a chance, but that is much easier said then done!