Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Stefan Bajcetic wraps up win
Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk put Liverpool in control but the Reds needed Bajcetic’s strike to seal the win after Ollie Watkins pulled one back
Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic to go sixth in the Premier League during a game littered with chances.
Striker Salah tapped in the visitors’ opener in the fifth minute after a sublime passing move from marauding wing-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. Defender van Dijk bagged Liverpool’s second in the 37th minute with a superb left-footed shot after being set up by Salah, who would have been proud of the finish.
Ollie Watkins put Villa back in the game with a smart 59th minute header across goalkeeper Alisson Becker, before 18-year-old midfielder Bajcetic squeezed in Liverpool’s third - his first senior goal - to secure the win in the 81st minute.
Goalscoring opportunities came aplenty for both teams as they peppered each other with high balls over the defences. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez was a nuisance throughout, missing a string of chances including a well-saved volley after he plucked the ball from high over his shoulder.
The result left Aston Villa in 12th place on 18 points, while Liverpool are on 25 points, one behind old rivals Manchester United in fifth but a daunting 12 behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who were playing later on Monday.
Unai Emery ‘excited’ about plans to bolster Aston Villa’s squad in January
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery admits he is more than happy with his current squad but is “excited” about their plans for the January transfer window as he aims to bolster his pack.
The upcoming transfer window will be Emery’s first opportunity to bring new players in since he replaced Steven Gerrard, who was sacked in October.
Although Emery has highlighted the importance of freshening up his side, he does not want to lose focus on upcoming games against Liverpool and Tottenham before any business can be done, and he has underlined the significance of those who will have a part to play over the next week.
Unai Emery ‘excited’ about plans to bolster Aston Villa’s squad in January
The upcoming transfer window will be Emery’s first opportunity to bring new players in
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
The solitary previous Boxing Day league fixture between these teams was Liverpool’s 2-1 away victory in 2001. Will they repeat that performance or can Villa shock the Reds today?
Aston Villa vs Liverpool team changes
It’s been a while since Aston Villa had a competitive outing and as such Unai Emery has made four changes to his starting XI. Ashley Young starts at right back in place of Matty Cash with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey up top.
Robin Olsen starts in goal ahead of Emi Martinez.
Jurgen Klopp makes six changes to the Liverpool team that lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup last time out. Alisson returns in goal with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk joining Joel Matip and Andy Robertson in defence.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho bolster the midfield whilst Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starts alongside Mo Salah and Darwin Nunez.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool line-ups
Aston Villa XI: Olsen; Young, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Bailey, Watkins, Buendia
Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Oxlade-Chamberlain
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Aston Villa have lost eight of the nine most recent league meetings between these two teams with the exception being an extraordinary 7-2 home victory in October 2020.
Liverpool’s only other defeat in their past 21 Premier League visits to Villa Park came in May 2011. They have won here 14 times, drawn four times and lost twice in that run.
Domestic football back with a bang as Man City edge Liverpool in Carabao Cup thriller
It is a moot point how many of the world’s best managers are found at the World Cup these days but two of the finest were found in the Carabao Cup, shifting attention back to domestic duty in typically compelling fashion. This is not the trophy Pep Guardiola has admitted he needs to complete his time at Manchester City. But, while he dreams of the Champions League, he moved closer to a record fifth League Cup, eliminating the holders Liverpool FC and beating his old nemesis Jurgen Klopp.
It was the night the club game returned with a vengeance, wresting the attention from its international counterpart, suggesting the standards can be higher here, illustrating that many of the sport’s finest forwards were not seen in Qatar in the last month. Three of them scored, in Erling Haaland, Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Salah, though the match-winner was the only World Cup quarter-finalist to start, in Nathan Ake.
Arguably the evening’s outstanding figure was one of the World Cup’s great underachievers, in Kevin de Bruyne, who set up City’s first and third goals. Having controversially, if correctly, deemed Belgium too old to succeed in Qatar, he looks likelier to secure silverware in the colours of his club.
Domestic football back with a bang as Man City edge Liverpool in Carabao Cup thriller
Man City 3-2 Liverpool: Erling Haaland was among the goals as City edged a thrilling clash to reach the quarter-finals
Aston Villa vs Liverpool prediction
A tricky Boxing Day clash for Liverpool, who need wins quickly to launch themselves up the table, against a Villa side who have been brought some stability since Unai Emery’s arrival.
Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool predicted line-ups
Aston Villa: Olsen; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Luiz, McGinn; Bailey, Ings, Bunedia
Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson; Salah, Nunez, Carva
What is the team news?
Aston Villa No 1 Emiliano Martinez will be unavailable, Emery confirmed, as he is given an extended period of rest following his World Cup exploits and celebrations in Argentina. Robin Olsen will deputise, while the match also comes too soon for Jacob Ramsey as he looks to recover from a hamstring injury.
James Milner picked up a hamstring injury in the loss to City and will miss another return to a former club, but both Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to return to the fray.
Roberto Firmino’s availability is thought to 50-50 due to a calf issue, but Alisson Becker is expected to return in goal.
Where can I watch Aston Villa vs Liverpool?
The game will be played at 5:30pm GMT on Monday 26th December at Villa Park.
This and all other Boxing Day fixtures will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video. That means while it’s not on a terrestrial or digital TV channel, it can be streamed via any TV or device which has access to the Prime Video app or desktop website. If you’re not an Amazon Prime Video subscriber start a free 30-day trial here.
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