Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Nunez starts after St James’ Park heroics as Martinez returns for Villans – kick-off time, team news and how to follow
Liverpool welcome Aston Villa to Anfield this weekend for an early-season top-four clash.
The Reds and Villa are likely to be competing for a spot in the Champions League next year and the Villans head to Merseyside in great form.
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Unai Emery’s men have won their last four in all competitions and have scored 15 goals, conceding just one in the process.
Meanwhile, the Reds can take great confidence from their incredible win with ten men over Newcastle at St James’ Park.
They actually have the longest unbeaten run in the top-flight and are starting to click under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Date and how to follow
This Premier League clash is set to take place on Sunday, September 3.
Kick-off at Anfield is scheduled for 2pm.
Unfortunately, this fixture will not be televised on UK screens.
However, highlights will be available on the Sky Sports website and app shortly after the end of the match and then later on Match of the Day.
talkSPORT will have updates throughout the afternoon and talkSPORT.com will have all the reaction.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Teams
Liverpool: Alisson, Robertson, Gomez, Matip, Alexander-Arnold, Jones, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Nunez, Salah, Diaz.
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Gakpo, Elliott, Tsimikas, Doak, Bajcetic, Jota, Quansah.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Cash, Kamara, Luiz, Digne, Diaby, McGinn, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Lenglet, Tielemans, Chambers, Zaniolo, Duran, Bailey, Dendoncker, Kellyman.
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Liverpool vs Aston Villa: What has been said?
Liverpool boss Klopp has requested that fans stop singing his song during games and save it for after as he wants the supporters to focus on the players.
He said: “During games I want all of the support to go to the players. I want them to feel your backing and I want you to urge them on and keep them on their toes.
“I know it is not for me to tell you when you should sing which song, so this is just a polite request.”
Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Match facts
- Liverpool have won nine of their last 11 Premier League games against Aston Villa, with the exceptions being a 7-2 loss at Villa Park in October 2020, and a 1-1 draw in this exact fixture last season.
- Only Manchester United (12) and Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League away games against Liverpool than Aston Villa (6), though the Villans are winless in their last five league visits to Anfield (D1 L4).
- Liverpool have won their last two Premier League matches despite conceding first in both games, winning 3-1 against Bournemouth and 2-1 against Newcastle. Since Jurgen Klopp’s first game in charge, the Reds have the most wins after conceding first (35) and points gained from losing positions (135) of any Premier League side.
- After losing 5-1 to Newcastle in their first Premier League game this season, Aston Villa have won their last two, scoring seven goals and conceding just once. They are the first top-flight side to lose their opening game by 4+ goals and then win their next two games since QPR in 1986-87.
- After failing to score in four of their first seven Premier League games in 2023, Liverpool have scored in all but two of their last 18, netting the most goals of any side since the start of March (43). Only Brighton (19) and Spurs (15) are on a longer run of consecutive scoring games than the Reds (13).
- Liverpool have received a red card in each of their last two Premier League games, last doing so in three in a row in September-October 1999 against Leicester (David Thompson), Everton (Sander Westerveld and Steven Gerrard) and Aston Villa (Steve Staunton). They are the first side to win consecutive games while receiving a dismissal since Watford in January 2020.
- Matty Cash’s second goal against Burnley last time out ended a 19-pass move, the most before an Aston Villa goal in the Premier League that Opta has on record (2006-07 onwards). The Villans are averaging 14.3 sequences of 10+ passes in open play per game this season, just over six more than they were last season (8.2).
- Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has been involved in at least one goal in his last nine Premier League appearances (4 goals, 7 assists), assisting Darwin Núñez’s winning goal at Newcastle. At home he’s scored or assisted in 10 consecutive games – the last player to do so in more consecutive home appearances was Thierry Henry for Arsenal between November 2002 and October 2003 (17 games).
- Darwin Núñez scored Liverpool’s 42nd 90th minute winning Premier League goal in their 2-1 win at Newcastle United, the most of any club in the competition’s history. Since the start of last season, Núñez is averaging the most shots (4.55) and most shots on target per 90 minutes (2.02) of any Premier League player (min. 500 minutes played).
- Moussa Diaby has been involved in three goals in his first three Premier League appearances for Aston Villa (2 goals, 1 assist), scoring in both of his away games at Newcastle and Burnley. Only five players have scored in their first three away Premier League appearances, most recently Erling Haaland last season.
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