Aston Villa vs Liverpool Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
This game was due to take place just before the March international break but has been rearranged due to Liverpool’s involvement in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium next month.
Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 19th February, 2025: UK – 7:30pm / US ET – 2:30pm / US PT – 11:30am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – TNT Sports app / US – Universo
Aston Villa Preview: Struggling for consistency
Aston Villa come into this one on the back of an underwhelming 1-1 draw at home to struggling Ipswich Town at the weekend. Despite going down to ten men before half-time, Ipswich took a second-half lead via Liam Delap before Ollie Watkins notched an equaliser for the Villains.
Unai Emery’s side are still pushing for a top four or five finish in the Premier League and remain in both the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League but they have struggled for consistency throughout this campaign ever since grinding out a few come from behind wins early on.
Liverpool Preview: Hectic schedule for league leaders
Arne Slot and his Liverpool side have been rampant for the vast majority of this campaign but the last month has seen their first defeat in Europe, as well as an exit from the FA Cup and being forced to come from behind in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup against Tottenham Hotspur.
After conceding a late equaliser in the last ever Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park last week against Everton, the Reds then nearly threw away a two-goal lead against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Anfield at the weekend but they managed to hold on for a 2-1 victory.
Aston Villa Team News: A few absentees
Aston Villa have some key issues at the back including Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash. Marcus Rashford has come off the bench twice now for Villa and could make his first start for the club after hitting the woodwork from a free-kick, from which Watkins scored, the other day. Boubacar Kamara was forced off early on with Tyrone Mings expected to start.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Garcia, Disasi, Mings, Digne; McGinn, Tielemans; Malen, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins
Unavailable: Torres (Injured), Konsa (Injured), Cash (Injured), Kamara (Injured), Onana (Injured), Barkley (Injured)
Questionable: Kamara (Injured), Bailey (Injured)
Liverpool Team News: Jones returns
England international Curtis Jones has returned from suspension after a red card received for a second bookable offence against Everton last week. They remain without defender Joe Gomez, whilst Arne Slot has confirmed that Cody Gakpo will once again be missing for the visitors.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez
Unavailable: Gomez (Injured), Gakpo (Injured)
Questionable:
Aston Villa vs Liverpool Prediction
Aston Villa began 2025 with three successive victories with two in the league sandwiching an FA Cup third round win but they have only managed back-to-back wins on three occasions since October. They now face a Liverpool side that can extend their lead at the top-of-the-table to ten points but a defeat at Villa Park will give Arsenal hope as the Gunners will be seven points adrift with a game-in-hand. Both teams scoring would appear a good bet for an inconsistent team with an abundance of attackers taking on a side that have endured a dip in their performance level in the last couple of months.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool Tip: Both teams to score
