Liverpool may be Premier League champions but as far as Jurgen Klopp is concerned his side will have something to prove when they take on Aston Villa.
The Reds wrapped up the title after Manchester City lost at Chelsea but their celebrations were brought to an abrupt halt when they were stunned 4-0 by a ruthless City side on Thursday.
Klopp’s men are still 20 points clear and have several Premier League records within touching distance, and they will want to get back to winning ways against relegation-threatened Villa.
The Midlands outfit hasn’t won in their four games since the restart and must start picking up points if they are to survive.
But coming up against the newly-crowned champions who will be smarting from a defeat doesn’t bode well for Dean Smith’s side. However, I think Liverpool will nick this one.
TEAM NEWS
Liverpool has no fresh injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s home game against Aston Villa.
Manager Jurgen Klopp says he will field his strongest available side for the remainder of the season.
Villa left-back Matt Targett will miss at least the next two games because of a hamstring injury.
Fit-again pair Frederic Guilbert and Danny Drinkwater are hoping to play for the first time since the Premier League’s resumption.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
Liverpool has earned four successive Premier League wins against Aston Villa, by an aggregate score of 13-3.
However, the Reds have won only three of the last nine league meetings at Anfield (D3, L3).
This fixture has produced 20 away wins, the most in Premier League history (14 for Liverpool, six for Aston Villa).
Liverpool
The new league champions are unbeaten in 56 home league games, winning the last 23 in a row.
The Reds need five wins from their final six league matches to break the English top-flight points record of 100, set by Manchester City in 2017-18.
Another five league victories would give Liverpool 33 for the season, eclipsing City’s record of 32.
Liverpool’s only defeat against a side in the relegation zone in their past 24 league matches at Anfield came against Swansea City in January 2017 (W17, D6).
It’s five losses in nine league and cup games for Jurgen Klopp’s side. They had only lost five of their previous 76 fixtures.
Liverpool could lose consecutive league matches for the first time from August to September 2015.
Mo Salah has scored 49 Premier League home goals in 59 appearances for Liverpool and Chelsea combined. Only Alan Shearer (47 games) has taken fewer than 60 appearances to reach 50 home goals in the division.
Roberto Firmino has failed to score in any of his last 17 league games at Anfield since a 2-1 win versus Tottenham in March 2019.
- Debarl India, Ken Mijungu, Brenda Wanga Full List Of Top Talents Journalists Fired By NTV
- Former Milele Presenter Jalang’o To Replace Andrew Kibe At Kiss FM
- John Magufuli tells men to marry Diamond Platnumz’s ex-girlfriend
- Sonko’s promises Nairobians more projects just to be relevant
Aston Villa
Dean Smith’s side is enduring the longest current winless run in the division, with two draws and six defeats in eight games.
Villa’s only two victories in their past 34 top-flight away fixtures came against Norwich in October and Burnley in January (D6, L26).
They have only managed two points from 15 Premier League away fixtures against the side starting the day top of the table since beating Leeds 2-1 in January 2000.
The Villans are on a club Premier League record run of 23 consecutive away fixtures without a clean sheet.
They are winless in all 15 league fixtures this season against the teams who begin this match around in the top nine of the table (D2, L13).
Jack Grealish has gone nine league appearances without a goal and only contributed one assist in those matches.
