Recap
Aston Villa is set to take on league leaders Liverpool with a much-changed lineup, as Unai Emery looks to revive their campaign after dropping to ninth place in the Premier League. Emery has opted for a more attacking approach, including a debut start for Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford and a first start for Marco Asensio. Tyrone Mings also comes into the defense after Boubacar Kamara’s hamstring injury, while Jacob Ramsey and Donyell Malen drop to the bench. Matty Cash, despite some injury concerns, is named among the substitutes.
For Liverpool, manager Arne Slot has made only one change despite the heavy workload on his squad. Curtis Jones returns from suspension, replacing Luis Diaz, with either Jones or Dominik Szoboszlai set to play on the left. Ibrahima Konate keeps his place in defense after a brief half-time substitution against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Slot opting to preserve him after a possible red card threat.
Aston Villa Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Martinez
- Defenders: Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne
- Midfielders: Asensio, Tielemans, McGinn
- Forwards: Rashford, Rogers, Watkins
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Cash, Bogarde, Maatsen, Malen, Ramsey, Jimoh-Aloba
Liverpool Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Alisson
- Defenders: Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson
- Midfielders: Jones, Gravenberch, Mac Allister
- Forwards: Salah, Jota, Szoboszlai
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Diaz, Nunez, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley
With both teams set for a crucial encounter, it looks like an exciting clash between Villa’s renewed attack and Liverpool’s ever-potent lineup.
