Premier LeagueThe opposition lowdown: Aston Villa

Season so far

Villa defeated Manchester City 1-0 at home last time out to move into eighth place in the Premier League table.

That was their fourth league victory in a row – following up successes over Fulham, Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur – and they are now unbeaten in their last six matches in the competition.

They are also competing in the Europa League this season and have won two from three in the league phase.

Brentford eliminated them from the Carabao Cup on penalties at the third-round stage.

Key players

John McGinn and Emiliano Buendia are Villa's leading scorers so far this season on three apiece, while Matty Cash and Donyell Malen have each chipped in with two.

Boubacar Kamara has a team-leading three assists to his name.

Five players – Cash, McGinn, Malen, Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins – are ever-present in the term up to this point.

Previous meetings

This fixture in 2024-25 ended in a 2-0 win for the hosts in the November.

Darwin Nunez's first-half opener from a counter-attack was followed by a clincher from Mohamed Salah in the 84th minute.

A 2-2 draw was played out in the reverse meeting in February.

Team news

Buendia has been ruled out through injury, joining Andres Garcia and Youri Tielemans on the sidelines.

Harvey Elliott, who joined Villa on loan on transfer deadline day, is unable to play against his parent club.

What they said

Aston Villa head coach Emery

"The performances collectively and how we are increasing and getting more points than we achieved in the first part of the season is very important. It means the players and our performance tactically is becoming better.

"The results are better than the first month we played in the Premier League. Something we have to avoid now is relaxing because we're in a position where we are feeling good, but it's not enough.

"To stop them [Liverpool] is very difficult. They have some injuries, like we have. I'm excited and motivated, even more for the difficulties we will face against them."

Pre-match stats

• Villa have won just one of their last 15 Premier League games against Liverpool (drawn three, lost 11), a 7-2 victory at Villa Park in October 2020.

• Emery's side could become the second team in top-flight history to win none of their first five games in a season and then win five in a row, after Preston North End in 1936-37.

• Only AFC Bournemouth (six) have scored more Premier League goals from outside the box this season than Villa (five), with Cash responsible for two of those, making the full-back one of four players with multiple strikes from distance this season.

• Watkins only has more Premier League goal involvements against Brighton & Hove Albion (nine) than he does versus Liverpool (eight – six goals, two assists).

• The Villans have lost each of their last 11 away Premier League fixtures against the reigning champions.