Liverpool vs Aston Villa: It's Make or Break for Arne Slot's Title Defence
Liverpool could fall ten points behind Arsenal by the end of the day...
The mood around Anfield has shifted sharply. From Premier League champions to a team staring at the possibility of falling ten points behind Arsenal by the end of today, Liverpool now face a must-win clash against an in-form Aston Villa. Anything less than three points, and Liverpool might just be out of the race to defend their crown.
That’s the harsh reality.
Opposition Analysis
Aston Villa started the season with a wobble. No goals in their first four. No wins in their first five. But what followed was the kind of turnaround that demands respect. Four Premier League wins on the bounce, including victories against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, have seen them surge into form. They’re unbeaten in six and have finally re-discovered their structure, whilst Liverpool haven’t.
Villa aren’t a team that rely on luck or chaos. Their play is balanced and intelligent. Their high-energy midfield, including Kamara and Onana and the physicality of John McGinn, closes down passing lanes and wins second balls with frightening regularity. They play through the thirds and they press in packs.
Ollie Watkins, previously criticised for looking distracted, has rediscovered his sharpness. Morgan Rogers is growing into his role and Jadon Sancho offers flair and unpredictability off the bench. Even without Emiliano Buendía, who’s a doubt after a knock against City, Villa are arriving at Anfield as the more settled and confident side.
Liverpool Must Stop the Rot Immediately
Liverpool, by contrast, have lost their way. The 3-0 midweek defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup was their sixth defeat in seven games and their fifth in a row in domestic competition. The cohesion is gone. The identity is blurred. Most alarmingly, so is the fight.
Defensive errors are now weekly occurrences. Misplaced passes, weak challenges and a lack of aggression in the press are undermining a side that once suffocated opponents. Gone is the relentless engine room that defined the title-winning sides of years past. This version of Liverpool isn’t winning duels. They’re not winning second balls. And in football, when you stop doing the basics, the results follow suit.
It’s not that Liverpool can’t play because of course they can. When things click, they still create chances. But they aren’t converting enough of them and they are conceding from moments of pure sloppiness.
Arne Slot Faces His First Defining Moment
Arne Slot’s first season was glittering. A Premier League title in his debut campaign, a manager in control. But things have changed and the next three fixtures against Aston Villa, Manchester City and Real Madrid will determine how his second season is remembered.
Injury problems have compounded his difficulties. Alisson Becker and Jeremie Frimpong remain out, and Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are unavailable too. Giovanni Leoni’s ACL injury means he’s done for the season. Ryan Gravenberch is back, but short on rhythm. The squad is stretched, and depth is being tested.
Still, excuses will not cut it. Liverpool have to find a way.
Liverpool Predicted XI: Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk (C), Kerkez, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Salah, Ekitike, Gakpo
Bench: Woodman, Gomez, Ramsey, Robertson, Endo, Mac Allister, Nyoni, Chiesa, Ngumoha
This Is About More Than Three Points
Forget Villa’s form. Forget Liverpool’s injury list. Strip away the distractions and this is about one thing: survival in the title race.
Arsenal will almost certainly beat Burnley earlier in the day. That would leave Liverpool ten points off the pace before a ball is kicked at Anfield. Lose or draw and that’s the gap going into back-to-back matches against Manchester City and Real Madrid.
That is not a climb that this Liverpool side can make.
The crowd will be up for it. The setting is perfect. A Saturday night game under the Anfield lights. But the crowd can only do so much. The players must show up. They must press, tackle, create and fight. Not for pride or noise, but for points.
Prediction: Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa