Two sides with 100% records to the season meet in the final game of the weekend as Aston Villa host the champions Liverpool.
Aston Villa recorded a second consecutive league win with a comfortable 3-0 win away at Fulham on Monday evening.
Goals from Jack Grealish, Conor Hourihane and Tyrone Mings saw Villa ease home against an awful Fulham side.
Both teams were eliminated from the EFL Cup on Thursday evening though, losing to Stoke City and Arsenal respectively.
Liverpool lost to Arsenal in the cup; however three days before secured a 3-1 victory over them in the league.
Sadio Mane and Andrew Robertson turned the game around after they conceded early, with Diogo Jota scoring on his Premier League debut.
Match history
Liverpool recorded two narrow wins over Aston Villa last season, scoring twice late on to recover from a goal down at Villa Park.
Liverpool have a very good recent record against Villa and last suffered a league defeat at Villa Park back in 2011.
Last five Premier League meetings
Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0 – 05/07/20
Aston Villa 1 Liverpool 2 – 02/11/19
Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 6 – 14/02/16
Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 2 – 26/09/15
Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2 – 17/01/15
Team news
New signing Ross Barkley will likely have to make do with a spot on the bench given Villa’s good start to the season.
Villa will likely revert back to the XI that won easily at Fulham.
Mane will miss the fixture having tested positive for Covid-19, the second Liverpool player to do so after new addition Thiago.
Jordan Henderson could return here, however will likely have to make do with a spot on the bench.
Expected starting XI’s
Aston Villa (4-3-3): Martinez; Cash, Mings, Konsa, Targett; McGinn, Luiz, Hourihane; Trezeguet, Watkins, Grealish
Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Keita, Fabinho, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Jota
Predictions
Result: Liverpool
Liverpool are undefeated at Villa Park in the league since 2011
Correct Score: 1-2
Liverpool have scored at least twice in their last five Premier League matches
Anytime Goalscorer: Mohamed Salah
Without Mane, Mohamed Salah will be looking to score for the first time since the opening weekend
