Aston Villa enter the Anfield cauldron on Saturday night as they attempt to put a dent in Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes.
It’s been a difficult period for Aston Villa, who have failed to win any of their previous four matches in all competitions.
Most alarmingly, Unai Emery’s men were pasted 4-1 by top-four rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, as Ange Postecoglou’s side ran riot in the second half.
Emery will want to pick his troops up off the canvas when they travel to Anfield – a ground they haven’t won at Anfield since September 2014 when Gabby Agbonlahor bagged the winner.
Villa boss Emery has issued a massive challenge to his squad when they play Liverpool as they attempt to break that 10-year record.
Meanwhile, Arne Slot has also commented on Emery’s playing style ahead of the mouth-watering clash, with Chris Sutton now sharing his prediction.
Chris Sutton shares his prediction for Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Liverpool have made a relentless start under new manager Slot, as they sit top of the Premier League table after 10 matches, seven points above Villa.
The Reds are devastating in attack with Mohamed Salah reaching top form and Sutton has warned Emery that if his side plays with low intensity, as they did last weekend, the hosts will pick them apart.
Predicting a 2-0 win for Liverpool, Sutton wrote in his BBC Sport column: “It was such a lethargic performance by Aston Villa against Club Brugge on Wednesday. I was expecting far more from them.
“Villa will need much more intensity if they are going to compete at Anfield, but the form Arne Slot’s side are in means I cannot see past a home win for this one.
“There is a lot of speculation about Mohamed Salah’s future at Liverpool, but what isn’t in doubt is his quality and he showed it again with his finish against Brighton last week.”
Ollie Watkins phenomenal record against Liverpool
Villa’s 7-2 victory over Liverpool in October 2020 will live long in the memory of striker Ollie Watkins, who scored a hat-trick in that demolition.
The Englishman normally turns up to the occasion when his side play the Reds, scoring five goals and laying on two assists in eight appearances.
Admittedly, four of those goal involvements did come in the seven-goal haul four years ago but if anyone is going to inspire Villa to victory on Saturday night, it’s Watkins.
In 10 Premier League games this term, the England international has already netted five times and supplied two assists, with the 28-year-old picking up where he left off last season.
Hopefully, Watkins can bring his clinical edge to Anfield and help the visitors pull off a massive win against the title hopefuls.
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