Game Week 4 Predictions: Liverpool and Aston Villa have points to prove at Anfield

Liverpool must prove they're not a spent force against a team that needs to show they belong at the top. (Photo credit: Inside Sport)

 

Liverpool vs. Aston Villa

Anfield

2:00pm

Liverpool is still basking in the euphoria of their sensational win at Newcastle. Two late Darwin Nunez goals earned the Kops a huge win that must be their source of inspiration henceforth.

Aston Villa is in top form. Unai Emery has done quality business in the transfer window to bolster his squad, and this might be the season he gets to prove that his failures at Arsenal weren’t due to incompetence.

Liverpool lost Virgil Van Dijk in the big win at St. James’s Park and also has Ibrahim Konate out injured. Joe Gomez will have to line up in defence alongside ageing Joel Matip, so the Kops must start thinking of defensive reinforcements in January.

Aston Villa had an easy ride to their Europa League group stage with an emphatic win over Hibernian over two legs and also learned about their group stage opponents on Friday. The season is about to get interesting for Villa.

Four straight wins, including the 4-0 annihilation of Everton and the 3-1 win at Burnley. The big test for Aston Villa will be their visit to a difficult ground like Anfield; it’s a game they must show up for if they indeed want to be part of the big guys at the end of the season.

Injuries and suspensions can be said to be troubling Liverpool at the moment, but Ryan Gravenberch arrived on Friday from Bayern Munich to support the midfield. The Kops also repelled Saudi Arabia’s offer for Mohammed Salah; that must be their biggest win of the summer window.

How will they line up on Sunday? Villa has Clement Lenglet from Barcelona but will most likely start Pau Torres and Ezri Konsa if they opt for a back four or add Diego Carlos if they want to go with a back three. Moussa Diaby has had a great start to life in England; he can hurt Liverpool.

Jurgen Klopp’s side will seek to build on last weekend’s victory, and that’s where a good start comes in. Trent Alexander Arnold will be the east target, but Liverpool must prepare for that. Salah, Diogo Jota, and Luis Diaz should start the game.

Verdict: Both teams scored.