Slot ‘relieved’ to recover from the road in opposition to Wolves
Liverpool journey to Aston Villa for a midweek Premier League conflict figuring out {that a} week would lengthen their lead within the title race to 10 factors.
Arne Slot’s facet enter an important week with a seven-point lead over Arsenal in second place, however with difficult fixtures to return away at Manchester Metropolis on Sunday and at residence to Newcastle United subsequent week. Nonetheless, the Reds – who held out for a nervy 2-1 win over a resolute Wolves facet on Sunday – will know that coming by a testing interval unscathed could be an enormous step in the direction of the title in Slot’s first season in cost.
Unai Emery’s males, in the meantime, are chasing the European spots. Villa are already by the last-16 of the Champions League this season and can wish to assure one other marketing campaign subsequent 12 months. They’re ninth within the Premier League and may leap as much as seventh with a win at Villa Park.
Comply with all of the Premier League motion with our dwell weblog beneath:
Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVEAston Villa host Liverpool within the Premier League with kick off at 7.30pm Villa looking for to get again to successful methods after 1-1 draw with IpswichReds can lengthen Premier League result in 10 factors with victoryAston Villa XI: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne, Asensio, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford, Rogers; Watkins.Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai, Jota, SalahLiverpool with out Cody Gakpo however Curtis Jones returns from banMarcus Rashford makes first Aston Villa begin Aston Villa crew information – Marcus Rashford begins
Marcus Rashford makes his first begin for Aston Villa following appearances off the bench in opposition to Tottenham and Ipswich, with the on-loan Manchester United ahead lining up in opposition to rivals Liverpool.
Former Actual Madrid ahead Marco Asensio additionally begins in opposition to Liverpool, coming right into a midfield that features John McGinn and Youri Tielemans. Rashford joins Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers in an all-English assault.
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 18:23
Aston Villa vs Liverpool confirmed line-ups
Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne, Asensio, Tielemans, McGinn, Rashford, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Zych, Money, Bogarde, Maatsen, Malen, Ramsey; Jimoh-Aloba.
Liverpool XI: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Szoboszlai, Jota, Salah
Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Díaz, Núñez, Chiesa, Elliott, Tsimikas, Quansah, Bradley.
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 18:19
Reminder of the early crew information
We’ll have the line-ups from Villa Park within the subsequent jiffy, right here’s a reminder of the early crew information:
Unai Emery has another new harm concern, with Boubacar Kamara compelled off simply 16 minutes into the draw with Ipswich on the weekend. He’ll doubtless face a late health check.
Ezri Konsa is unlikely to be again in time to face Liverpool, whereas Pau Torres and Matty Money stay sidelined in defence and Amadou Onana continues to be a while away from a return. Ollie Watkins must be match to start out once more, whereas Leon Bailey may return to the squad.
Cody Gakpo won’t characteristic however is nearing a return after lacking the win over Wolves because of a knock, however Curtis Jones returns to the squad after serving his suspension. Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton stay sidelined.
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 18:09
Aston Villa’s Champions League push
Tonight shouldn’t be solely an enormous sport for Liverpool however for Aston Villa as nicely. Unai Emery’s facet will uncover who they’ll face within the Champions League last-16 in Friday’s knockout stage draw, however they’ll wish to qualify for subsequent season’s competitors as nicely.
Villa are winless of their final 4 Premier League video games, by, with Saturday’s 1-1 draw at residence to 10-man Ipswich leaving them ninth within the desk and nearer to the underside half than the top-four. Even when they beat Liverpool tonight, they’d solely go above Fulham into eighth, which reveals the dimensions of their problem.
In the intervening time, Manchester Metropolis and Bournemouth occupy the ultimate Champions League spots (assuming it goes all the way down to fifth place). Villa are solely 5 factors behind the Cherries, however they’ve additionally bought Chelsea – who they host on Saturday – and Newcastle of their approach.
(Getty Photos)
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 18:00
The uncommon Arne Slot trait that would determine Liverpool’s title cost
The enterprise finish of a season isn’t at all times the purpose to parade your ideas. Arne Slot has attacking beliefs, however a keenness for successful can override idealism. “Typically as a supervisor you need to be pragmatic as nicely and perceive it’s possibly not our sport by way of soccer, [so] then we as a training workers need to be able to make selections that assist the crew in these moments,” he rationalised.
The defining theme of Slot’s administration at Anfield has not been a 4-2-3-1 formation and even the similarities and variations with Jurgen Klopp’s ways. It has been glorious decision-making.
Richard Jolly19 February 2025 17:40
Arne Slot leaning on expertise of Liverpool’s title winners
As Liverpool enter an important stage of the season, Arne Slot says he’ll lean on the expertise of gamers like Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson to guide the squad in the direction of a second title in 5 years.
The final time Liverpool had a 10-point lead within the title race was after they received the Premier League in 2019-20, and whereas Slot had title successful expertise himself with Feyenoord he says he desires his Premier League champions to assist the crew in robust moments.
“So those that received the league right here already that was in [Covid] with followers not being within the stadium and at a sure level they had been 25 factors up so you’ll be able to hardly speak about strain then,” Slot stated.
“Though I’m the kind of supervisor that if there are 10 video games to be performed and I am 25 factors up I nonetheless really feel like ‘oh, we’ve got to win’ however there was hardly any strain then.
“However we do lean on the gamers as a result of they’ve to point out up and convey the performances in however not within the method the place as we speak or tomorrow they current a gathering on methods to cope with the strain, that is not the way it works.”
(PA Archive)
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 17:10
Why was Aston Villa vs Liverpool rearranged?
Aston Villa had been initially scheduled to host Liverpool within the early Saturday kick-off on 15 March, however that was rearranged after the Reds reached the Carabao Cup remaining (to be performed in opposition to Newcastle on 16 March).
The rearranged sport means Villa play Liverpool tonight, Chelsea on Saturday evening, Crystal Palace subsequent Tuesday and Cardiff within the FA Cup on Friday February 28 earlier than heading into the Champions League the next week. That’s 5 video games in 14 days.
Liverpool, in the meantime, play Manchester Metropolis on Sunday, Newcastle subsequent Wednesday after which have the weekend off after being knocked out of the FA Cup, however they too can have Champions League soccer to arrange for the next week.
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 16:40
Unai Emery says go to of Liverpool ‘most tough’ sport of the season
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery stated his facet’s rearranged fixture with Premier League leaders Liverpool is their “most tough match” they’ve left this season.
Emery’s crew have crushed Bayern Munich and Manchester Metropolis at residence this season, whereas drawing with Juventus – however leaders Liverpool are unbeaten away from residence within the league.
“That is essentially the most tough match we’ll play within the final weeks or months of the season,” Emery stated. “We’re excited with who we’ll face tomorrow. Liverpool are the most effective crew within the Premier League and Europe.
“Our problem is how we face them and reply with our qualities and the way we play at this stage. We’re excited and hopefully we are able to share our excited moments with our followers at Villa Park.”
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 16:10
Arne Slot heaps reward on Marcus Rashford
In his pre-match press convention, Arne Slot reserved reward for Manchester United’s on-loan ahead Marcus Rashford, who’s exhibiting indicators of discovering type regardless of Aston Villa’s irritating 1-1 draw with 10-man Ipswich on Saturday.
Rashford may very well be handed his first begin of his mortgage spell in opposition to United’s rivals and Slot stated he expects to see his high quality.
“The primary time I confronted Rashford in actual life was within the USA tour final summer time. I used to be actually impressed,” the Liverpool supervisor stated.
“He’s an excellent participant, I hope for him he reveals it at Villa however in fact, not tomorrow. I might be fully stunned if a participant of this high quality isn’t going to point out it within the upcoming months. He’s an excellent participant for my part.”
(REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 15:40
Arne Slot on Liverpool crew information
Liverpool boss Arne Slot on Liverpool crew information and updates on Cody Gakpo and Joe Gomez:
“Each are unavailable. Cody is the nearer to being again however Joe will take fairly a very long time. He’s going to be out for plenty of weeks due to a hamstring harm.
“It’s an enormous blow for Joe and for us. He tries to do all the things to be with the crew. He works actually onerous to return again after which the primary sport when he got here again after two or three minutes we noticed him making a dash and now he’s out for weeks once more.
“In order that’s at all times very onerous for a participant in each a part of the season, not to mention part of the season everyone seems to be wanting ahead to.”
(Getty Photos)
Jamie Braidwood19 February 2025 15:10