Game Week 17 Predictions: Liverpool to beat Aston Villa

Unai Emery makes his home debut against Liverpool but how much of joy will he experience on Boxing Day? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Villa Park

6:30pm

Unai Emery will lead his Aston Villa players out against Liverpool on Monday in the Boxing Day fixture and hope to record a win in his first game at Villa Park, following up his debut win against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.

Aston Villa fired Steven Gerrard to hire the former Arsenal head coach as they hope to turn things around following a difficult start to the new season but the questions the Kops will ask of them must be answered convincingly for them to stand a chance.

Liverpool had an indifferent start to the league season with unexpected results but their last game before the break helped them into sixth on the log after a Darwin Nunez inspired 3-1 win over Southampton at Anfield.

Liverpool must win here to throw themselves into the top four equation again, sitting seven points outside champions league places is not healthy and only a win at Villa Park can restore the hopes of the pandemic champions.

How will they line up? Most of the World Cup contingent on either side returned quite early and everyone should be available except the long term absentees like Diogo Jota and tricky Colombian Luis Dias. Mohammed Salah is expected to lead the line while Nunez should have a good run too.

Liverpool lost to Manchester City in the league cup just few days ago but the match fitness was quite obvious and they can improve on that against the hosts. Villa will be the underdogs in this game but who can forget their 7-2 annihilation of Liverpool on this ground two seasons ago?

It’s a good time for Phillippe Coutinho to prove he’s not a spent force by returning to the team where he made his name and make another mark while the duo of Danny Ings and Ollie Watkins will also give Liverpool some interesting headaches.

Verdict: Liverpool to win