Liverpool v Aston Villa Match Preview

Liverpool v Aston Villa.. Sunday 03 September.. 14:00 BST

The reds go into the last game before the international break looking to maintain that unbeaten start. With all the excitement of the transfer window behind us.. We hope.. Gravenberch is in and Mo could still be the target of a £200 million Saudi bid. It's game on. On Sunday afternoon.

After the excellent result last time out against Newcastle confidence should be high and we look to have found the player to lead our forward line. I mean he's been here over a season. He cost 60+ million squids and he just never gets picked to start.. Until now..? Well you'd certainly hope so..

Darwin Nunez is the player everyone has been talking about all week. A natural goal scorer.. A natural No.9.. He's got it all.. He needs to dominate defences but to do that he needs games. This could be where he grabs the bull by the horns and doesn't look back..

After the disappointment of last season these Sunday fixtures are gonna be the norm with Europa League games on the horizon. We couldn't have asked for a better group to be drawn. A great chance to get the Academy Graduates playing time.. Lets take a look at this one..

Quick Stat Check.. Liverpool haven't lost to Villa at Anfield since 2014. Winning 4 and Drawing 1. In the form guide Liverpool are 2 Wins & 1 Draw this season. Villa are 2 Wins & 1 Defeat. Away at Newcastle. 

Liverpool Team News

Thiago is still injured. No surprise there.. Konate is on the mend but won't be fit for this one.. The international break will do him some good and hopefully Thiago.. Curtis Jones is back in training and should be back in contention. Virg is out for this one after his red card against Newcastle.

Liverpool Expected Line Up

Ali, Trent, Gomez, Matip, Robbo, Endo, AMac, Szobozslai, Diaz, Nunez, Mo

Aston Villa Team News

Villa are without a few key players. Buendia & Mings are out with long term knee injuries. Jacob Ramsay, Alex Moreno, Martinez & Iroegbunam could also be ruled out of their trip to Anfield.

Aston Villa Dangerman.. Ollie Watkins.. 

Same as last season. He is always a threat against us. He looks to get in behind and get shots away. A proper handful for any defence so we will have to be on our toes. Or simply just be strong and organised and not give up too much space.

With Leon Bailey and the addition of Moussa Diaby in the summer they are shaping up an impressive forward trio. Taking a bit of pressure of Ollie to be the main focal point and providing him with plenty of assists.. One to look out for..

The Game

We are seeing more and more at Anfield teams are coming out against us and pinning us back early. They obviously know we can be got at. Trent will once again be targeted. If Joe Gomez is next to him expect plenty of attacks down their left or crosses into that area..

A fast start by us is important. We have lost count how many times we concede and how many times we are a goal down before we have got started. Newcastle away and Bournemouth at home carried on the trend. Plus we let Chelsea score with ease when in total control.

So with all this in mind how good would a clean sheet be here.. It will be tough but why not. On the flip side we are always opening teams up. Especially at home. If we hadn't been shafted and gone down to 10 men twice already this season we'd surely have more goals on the board.

Plus a dodgy handball decision against Chelsea and we'd be 3 for 3. The mentality monsters are back thats for sure and its time to build on it here.. 

PREDICTION.. 3-1 To Them Mighty Reds..

With Nunez leading the line space will open up for Mo & Diaz.. The midfield looks like we are closing gaps and winning the ball a load better and Trent looks to be operating down the right a bit more. This also frees up Robbo to attack a bit more freely.

So we don't need to come flying out the traps as such. More like start on the front foot with quick possession based football is the order of the day. Probing and pressing and unlocking a good Villa defence with skill and trickery.

That clean sheet for us is important in that opening 20 minutes as the longer the game goes on the more we will take control.. You could see a Mo tap in after some good play. Nunez adding to his tally too after last week. Matip likes a goal against these too. He is important from set pieces.

Missing Virg & Konate is a concern but that midfield of ours is shaping up nicely.. 

OurLFC DangerMan.. Alexis Mac Allister.. 

I mean we have threats from every position. The front 3 whatever that may be is frightening. But midfield is where we wanted to reinvent and so far so good. Thiago & Bajcetic still to come back. Endo needs to build up fitness and understanding.

But it's Szoboszlai who was excellent against Bournemouth and AMac who are the standouts so far. This is a World Cup winner remember and he has played really well so far. Albeit a little reserved in his first three games.

The quality has been there though for all to see. Playing in a deeper role at times.. Here though he has a chance to take things up a notch and we can see him playing more in the final third of the pitch where he is dangerous.

Like all games midfield battles usually win you games. We have defo reinvented ours to compete once more. Adding Gravenberch to the mix was a master stroke.. AMac is gonna be some player driving us forward..

We will bring you match previews before every fixture. Share around using the links and let us know your thoughts on the match..