Friday Night Football is back with a huge clash between Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Europa League finalists Villa are fifth in the table, and sit behind the Reds on goal difference only.
But with high-flying Bournemouth now just four points behind the pair, this match is of huge significance in the race for Champions League qualification.
Expect some serious drama under the lights at Villa Park, and we have previewed the fixture in full below, picking out some more online betting tips based on the latest Premier League odds.
And our tips can be used in conjunction with NetBet’s Bet Builder feature. Combine multiple selections into one handy wager with increased odds, and play your way!
Where can I watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool in the UK?
Aston Villa vs Liverpool will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with kick-off scheduled for 8pm UK time.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool Preview
Recent results
Villa drew 2-2 at Burnley last Sunday, but the result came after a huge 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in their Europa League semi-final second leg. Unai Emery’s men will play Freiburg in the final, though the manager will now be eager to address his side’s poor top-flight form. Prior to the draw at Burnley, Villa lost to both Fulham (1-0) and Tottenham (1-2).
Liverpool could only muster a 1-1 draw with Chelsea on the weekend, the Reds failing to capitalise on Ryan Gravenberch’s brilliant opening goal. Arne Slot’s team also lost their previous fixture on the road, a 3-2 defeat at fierce rivals Manchester United. And Liverpool have actually lost three of the last four top-flight away games, with failures at Wolves (2-1) and Brighton (2-1) preceding the 2-1 victory at Everton.
Head-to-head record
Villa’s recent record against Liverpool is woeful. The 2-0 loss at Anfield earlier in the season means they have failed to win any of the 11 editions of this fixture, a run which stretches back to October 2020 – when the Villans famously won 7-2 in the lockdown era.
The last two meetings at Villa Park finished as draws, a 3-3 followed by last season’s 2-2.
Team news
Boubacar Kamara, Amadou Onana and Alysson Santos continue to be the injury absentees for Villa, but the rest of the squad should be available for selection.
Liverpool’s fitness situation does not look great at all. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo are all ruled out, while Mohamed Salah, Alisson Becker and Ibrahima Konate are injury doubts. Florian Wirtz should be available again after a bout of illness, though.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool Odds
*All odds are subject to change
Liverpool are slight favourites for the win here at a price of 2.20. A victory for Aston Villa is at odds of 2.86, while the draw is 3.62.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool Betting Tips
Anytime goalscorer – Ollie Watkins @ 2.60
Watkins is in solid Premier League form, with four goals in his last six appearances. And the England international has a great record against Liverpool, with six strikes in 11 previous games against the Reds. Is another goal on the cards?
Both teams to score – Yes @ 1.42
But while we are backing Watkins to score, we also fancy Liverpool to join Villa in grabbing at least one goal on the night. Emery’s men have conceded eight goals in the last four Premier League games, while Liverpool scored at least once in each of the last 16 top-flight matches.
Total goals – Over 2.5 @ 1.47
Villa’s last four home matches across all competitions saw over 2.5 goals scored, while the pick also landed in Liverpool’s last two on the road vs Everton and United. With both sides needing the three points, we should be treated to goals at Villa Park.
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