Liverpool host Aston Villa in the Saturday evening game, with Villa’s best form coming away from home this season, where they have won four, drawn three and lost three. Brendan Rodgers’ men have lost just once at home all season – to Mauricio Pochettino’s Southampton side.
Team News
Jose Enrique, Jon Flanagan and Daniel Agger look set to miss out, while Joe Allen and Mamadou Sakho may be back for the game.
Paul Lambert will be without Libor Kozak, Jores Okore and Nathan Baker after his concussion against the Gunners on Monday night.
Interesting Statistics
- Liverpool won the reverse fixture against Villa back in August with their only shot on target of the game. [via StatsZone]
- Christian Benteke has three goals in three games against Liverpool.
- Steven Gerrard has scored more goals [11] in the Premier League against Aston Villa than he has managed against any other side.
Key Players
Luis Suarez and Christian Benteke
Devastating. Luis Suarez has been one of the stand out players so far this Premier League campaign, scoring 22 goals in 16 games, averaging a goal every 65 minutes; with a chance conversion rate of 28% and a clear-cut chance conversion rate of 53%.
While Suarez has been in devastating form in front of goal, he has creativity in abundance. So far this season he has created 47 chances for his team-mates, with 13 clear-cut chances created – resulting in five assists for his side. His ability to terrify and put defenders on the back foot has resulted in a total of 121 dribbles, successfully completing 46.
Christian Benteke, on the other hand, is currently undergoing second season syndrome. His goal-scoring record from January to September was stellar, but since September he has scored just one goal, which came in the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal. He looked back to his best in the second half, and got his reward with a fine diving header.
The Belgian forward has scored just five Premier League goals in 14 games this season; resulting in a goal every 247 minutes, with a chance conversion rate of 15% and a clear-cut chance conversion of 25%.
Benteke, like his Uruguayan opponent, has the ability to link up play and create chances for his team-mates, with 29 chances created for his team-mates at a rate of one chance created every 43 minutes, but he’s created just two clear-cut chances, with no assists.
Winner Betting
Last five meetings:
Liverpool are the favourites here, and with reason, with 9 wins in 10 home games, they look tough opposition for Aston Villa, despite Villa’s decent away record. Luis Suarez to score first is always worth backing, which is 7/4 at Winner.com. Liverpool to win 3-1 at 10/1, looks like it could be worth backing, with Liverpool scoring two or more in their last five home matches and with Villa scoring away in four of their last five matches.
