EPL Betting Preview: Aston Villa vs. Liverpool – Saturday, November 9, 2024
As Liverpool look to maintain their impressive form under Arne Slot, they face an Aston Villa squad fresh from a controversial European setback in Saturday’s high-stakes Premier League showdown at Anfield.
The Villans are still looking for their first win over the Reds since October 2020, when they humiliated their opponents 7-2 at Villa Park.
Aston Villa’s perfect Champions League campaign came to an end when the Birmingham outfit suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Club Burrge on Wednesday night. Meanwhile, 24 hours earlier, Liverpool claimed a massive 4-0 victory over German champions Bayer Leverkusen to extend their winning run in Europe’s premium competition.
Manchester City are still leading in BetOnline’s Premier League outright bets (+150), but Arne Slot’s men are just behind them at +175 and Arsenal sit not so far away either (+330).
Liverpool Betting Preview (-222 at EveryGame)
The Reds aim to maintain winning momentum in the final clash before the looming international break. Arne Slot showcased his tactical prowess on Tuesday, orchestrating Liverpool’s dominant win over Xabi Alonso’s (once a fan-favorite candidate to succeed Jurgen Klopp) Bayer Leverkusen. Luis Diaz delivered a memorable hat-trick, carving through the Bundesliga champions’ defense, while Cody Gakpo opened his Champions League account in style. This emphatic victory puts Liverpool two points clear at the top of their Champions League group, reinforcing their aspirations both domestically and continentally.
Currently leading the way in both the Premier League and Champions League, Liverpool capitalized on stumbles from Manchester City and Arsenal last weekend. Recovering from an early goal, they claimed a 2-1 win over Brighton to create a two-point cushion over the reigning league champions. Slot has guided the Reds to new heights, smashing records and unexpectedly pushing Liverpool back into title contention, surpassing milestones set by managerial greats like Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.
This latest Champions League success also marked Liverpool’s sixth straight home win across all competitions, with the Reds netting at least twice in each of these encounters. Their gritty comeback against Brighton last weekend was especially noteworthy, as it was Liverpool’s 100th time overturning a deficit for a Premier League win.
Liverpool’s injury situation remains unchanged. Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota are sidelined until after the international break.
Arne Slot made bold tactical choices midweek, deploying hat-trick hero Diaz as a central striker, but may revert him to the left-wing to accommodate Darwin Nunez, who returns fresh. On the left flank, Andrew Robertson could reclaim his starting spot from Kostas Tsimikas, while Dominik Szoboszlai might start ahead of Curtis Jones to add dynamism in midfield.
Aston Villa Betting Preview (+550 at EveryGame)
Aston Villa began their Champions League campaign in dominant fashion, claiming victories over Young Boys, Bayern Munich, and Bologna. Yet, a shocking penalty incident marred their trip to Belgium this week. Villa captain Tyrone Mings unwittingly handled the ball after a goal kick, gifting Brugge a chance to score from the spot, which Hans Vanaken seized, dealing Villa their first European defeat of the season.
Villa’s recent form is faltering, with consecutive losses across competitions. Before Brugge, they exited the League Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace and suffered a heavy 4-1 Premier League loss to Tottenham. Sitting sixth in the league with 18 points, Unai Emery’s side goal difference sees them lag behind Arsenal and Chelsea, and they arrive at Anfield with an unenviable record against top-tier sides.
Villa haven’t beaten a top-two Premier League team away since defeating Leeds United in January 2000, and each of their last nine such fixtures has ended in defeat. Their winless streak against Liverpool stands at eight matches, though their 3-3 draw in May offered a glimpse of what they’re capable of.
The Villans were without Matty Cash and former Everton star Ross Barkley for their trip to Belgium, with both likely to miss the Liverpool clash. Further forward, Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey could step in for Boubacar Kamara and Leon Bailey.
Ollie Watkins failed to find the back of the net in his last four appearances for Aston Villa, with the England striker only scoring in his side’s 3-1 win at Fulham in the first match after last month’s international break.
Meanwhile, Tyrone Mings made his second start since the England defender completed a full recovery after a long-term (cruciate ligament tear) injury layoff. Mings was among the starters at Jan Breydelstadion in midweek, but Unai Emery could opt for the centre-back pairing of Pau Torres and Diego Carlos at Anfield.
Possible Starting Lineups of Liverpool and Aston Villa
- Liverpool: Caoimhín Kelleher – Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Trent Alexander-Arnold – Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch – Luis Diaz, Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah – Darwin Nunez. (4-2-3-1)
- Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez – Lucas Digne, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa – Jacob Ramsey, Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, John McGinn – Morgan Rogers – Ollie Watkins. (4-2-3-1)
Spooky Express Betting Prediction
Aston Villa have been an offensive force this season, and they’re sure to challenge Liverpool’s backline, which showed some vulnerability despite ultimately keeping a clean sheet against Bayer Leverkusen. Yet, Liverpool’s exceptional form at Anfield, combined with the benefit of an extra day’s rest, offers a significant advantage for the Reds.
Fans can look forward to an electric showdown, with Liverpool favored to secure a strong finish before the last international break of the calendar year. Meanwhile, Mohamed Salah, who consistently shines for the Reds, is an enticing Anytime Goalscorer pick, with betting odds of +110 on BetOnline.