In a clash between third and fourth place, Aston Villa and Liverpool (in reverse order) collide at Villa Park for a crucial showdown in the penultimate round of Premier League fixtures.
With Champions League football already secured for the Reds ahead of Jurgen Klopp's final away match, Aston Villa have a chance to virtually clinch their own spot in Europe's premier competition with a victory over Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp's side claimed a comfortable 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Villa Park earlier this season (3 September).
Aston Villa's pursuit of continental glory faltered as Unai Emery's side bowed out of the Europa League against Greek giants Olympiacos. A disappointing 4-2 defeat in the first leg dashed their final hopes, with Ayoub El Kaabi's hat-trick handing the Greek side a solid lead.
Despite their effort in the second leg at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskaki last Thursday, El Kaabi's brace eventually secured Olympiacos a spot in the final against Fiorentina on May 29.
An unexpected loss to a defensively resilient Brighton side was sandwiched between their European setbacks. Aston Villa's recent struggles have dimmed their once-shining home form, with only three wins in their last eight Premier League games at Villa Park. However, Unai Emery's side has yet to suffer consecutive league defeats this season.
While first-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez received clearance to feature against Olympiacos last time out, doubts linger over Alex Moreno, Youri Tielemans, and Nicolo Zaniolo, pending late fitness assessments.
Furthermore, Morgan Rogers' hamstring injury may sideline him for the remainder of the season, joining long-term absentees Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, Emiliano Buendia, and Jacob Ramsey.
With limited options for changes, the spotlight may fall on promising academy talents like 20-year-old midfielder Tim Ireogbunam, who has one Premier League start this season. Elsewhere, Clement Lenglet could provide defensive reinforcement for Villa.
When it comes to individual performance, Aston Villa's striker Ollie Watkins boasts 19 goals and 12 assists in 35 league starts this term.
The Reds unleashed a relentless attacking display against Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah, Andrew Robertson, Harvey Elliott, and Cody Gakpo finding the net. Despite a late surge from top-four hopefuls Spurs, courtesy of Richarlison and Son Heung-min, Liverpool secured a 4-2 victory over the North London outfit.
While mathematically not in contention for the Premier League title, Liverpool's aspirations aim to extend their impressive unbeaten streak in May, a month where they have remained undefeated in 18 Premier League matches since 2018.
Aston Villa, who stunned Liverpool with a 7-2 victory earlier during Jurgen Klopp's reign, now faces a formidable opponent. However, recent encounters have seen Villa struggle, losing six and drawing one of their last seven matches against the Merseyside Reds. With 16 Premier League away victories against Villa, Klopp's team holds a significant advantage-more than any other opponent.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp voiced his belief that Unai Emery deserved more time at the helm of Arsenal.
On the injury front, Liverpool's lineup remains unchanged, with several players, including Joel Matip, Ben Doak, Bobby Clark, Thiago Alcantara, and Diogo Jota, all sidelined. Despite Andy Robertson's absence from recent training photos, we expect the Scotland left-back to be fit for Monday's game. If he needs backup, Kostas Tsimikas and Joe Gomez are available.
Klopp, reflecting on the season, expressed regret over not giving Harvey Elliott more playing time. As a result, Elliott is likely to feature prominently in midfield. Moreover, Cody Gakpo's impressive performance could earn him another starting spot over Darwin Nunez, whose future at Liverpool remains somehow uncertain following the Uruguayan's recent social media activity.
· Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa, Moussa Diaby, John McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Leon Bailey, Jon Duran, and Ollie Watkins. (4-4-2)
· Liverpool: Alisson, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Jarell Quansah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah. (4-3-3)
As the action kicks off, expect early fireworks, as history suggests quick goals in clashes between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park. In fact, the opening five minutes of the last four meetings have broken the deadlock.
However, it's more likely that Jurgen Klopp's side will capitalize on any rapid strikes this time. The Birmingham outfit, exhausted and plagued by numerous injuries, may find themselves physically and mentally fatigued from their recent European campaign, delaying their bid to overtake Tottenham and secure fourth place.
Still, Aston Villa have the firepower (especially in Ollie Watkins) to expose Liverpool's vulnerability, with the Reds conceding in their last nine league games.
