Aston Villa Vs Liverpool
Aston Villa Vs Liverpool Sunday 4 October 2020 – 19:15 (GMT)
English Premier League
Pick: Liverpool to Win by One Goal (Winning Margin)
Odds: 3/1
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 2 October 2020)
Preview: Something has to give at Villa Park on Sunday between teams still boasting perfect records, with Aston Villa hoping to fare better than when these teams clashed here last season in a 2-1 victory for Liverpool.
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Table of Contents
Aston Villa Preview – Smith’s men exceeding expectations so far?
It took Aston Villa until their eighth game of last season to notch win number two in the Premier League, which is as many as they have managed in two games of this season after opening with ‘to nil’ victories over Sheffield United (1-0) and Fulham (0-3). The last time the club begun a season with more was way back in 1962-63. So there is an opportunity to rewrite a little piece a history on Sunday.
Unfortunately, the omens regarding this particular fixture are far from encouraging. Not only are they facing the current best team in the country – and Opta tell us The Villains are winless against reigning Premier League champions in their last fifteen such games (D3 L12) – but they have lost each of the last five league meetings with Liverpool, by an aggregate of 3-15. Not to mention each of the previous six held at Villa Park.
However, last season seen Dean Smith’s men come mighty close to becoming the first team to inflict defeat on The Reds in December when, with five minutes of normal time remaining, they held a 1-0 lead at Villa Park. They eventually lost 2-1, but were far from disgraced. Nor were they at Anfield in July when, again, a couple of late goals condemned ultimately did for them in a 2-0 loss.
Liverpool Preview – Pre-season doubters gone quiet?
Plenty were lining up to declare the reigning Premier League champions as vulnerable ahead of the new season. Some patchy form – by their incredibly high standards – in the latter stages of last season was enough for some to believe Jurgen Klopp’s men had already reached the summit of their powers and were in the early stages of regression. A flawless start to the 2020/21 league campaign (W3) suggests otherwise.
The Reds have hardly put a foot wrong so far, with even Thursday’s exit from the Carabao Cup on penalties to Arsenal a minor blemish as a much-changed side bowed out at Anfield. Three days prior to that, The Gunners were outplayed in a thoroughly impressive display from Liverpool whose 3-1 victory moved them level with leaders Leicester on nine points.
Instrumental in the aforementioned encounter was Sadio Mane, whom was voted Man of the Match and would have been supremely confident of adding to his tally here. The Senegalese star has scored in each of his last two league games and boasts a formidable record in this fixture, scoring six times in as many appearances versus Aston Villa, but has been ruled out here as he begins a period of self-isolation.
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Aston Villa Vs Liverpool Betting Advice
The longest current unbeaten streak in the English top-flight belongs to Aston Villa who are now six league games without defeat (W4 D2), allowing only two goals, after winning their first two league fixtures. How much can be read into beating the ten men of Sheffield Utd and an abject Fulham remains to be seen, however, they are two from two so far and are still to concede.
Aston Villa Vs Liverpool – Key Facts
- The Villains have won their first two league games, after wins over Sheffield Utd and Fulham, to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to six (W4 D2).
- Liverpool have won all three league fixtures so far this season, against Arsenal, Chelsea and Leeds, with Sadio Mane on target in each of the last two.
- Both league meetings in 2019/20 were won by Liverpool, who have now won the previous five head-to-heads as well as all of the last six encounters held at Villa Park.
Imperious thus far, the only real concern for Liverpool is how detrimental losing Sadio Mane will be. Diego Jota is an excellent deputy, and his goal on debut in last week’s win at Anfield against Arsenal will give him confidence, but Mane’s ability to go at defenders and ghost into the box is a huge asset while his record in this fixture is superb (6 in 6 apps). He dug them out of a hole here last season, so this could be close again.
Best Betting Odds – Aston Villa Vs Liverpool
Aston Villa – 15/2 (Betway)
Draw – 4/1 (Bet365)
Liverpool – 2/5 (Unibet)
