Premier League

Saturday 11th December 2021

Liverpool v Aston Villa 15:00

  • Met 186 times in the league, Liverpool 90, Draws 40, Villa 56
  • Last season’s repeat fixture ended, Liverpool 2-1 Villa
  • Each side took 3 points off the other last season
  • Liverpool have won 6 their last 7 league fixtures vs Villa
  • Liverpool have lost just 2 of their last 11 league head-to-heads vs Villa
  • Villa have won 3 of their last 9 away league games at Liverpool
  • 7 of the last 8 head-to-heads went OVER 2.5 GOALS
  • Liverpool have scored 2+ goals in their last 7 league games vs Villa
  • Salah (Liverpool) has scored 4 goals in the last 3 head-to-heads (all comps)

Next up for title challengers – Liverpool – is a home clash against Villa and with former Liverpool legend – Steven Gerrard – now at the helm at Aston Villa, then this Premier League game has a nice little sub-plot.

Since taking over at Villa, Gerrard has also made a decent start, including coming from behind to see off Leicester last weekend.

Liverpool needed a very late goal to get past Wolves last Saturday and now head into this ‘week 16’ round of games on 34 points and just one off the leaders Man City, who are away at Norwich in Saturday’s 5:30pm clash.

Despite the ‘Gerrard factor’ the bookies still make Liverpool the hot favourites to win this game at 1.25, with the draw 6.00 and Villa at 11.00.

Villa fans will gain some hope though in their recent good form and also that they only lost 2-1 in this repeat fixture last season. Don’t forget, Villa also managed to thump Liverpool 7-2 in their home league match last season!

Villa have also won 3 of their last 9 away league games at Anfield, so at 11.00, there is still likely to be takers on the upset here – or if you prefer a bit more safety, then Villa/Draw can be backed at 3.75 in the ‘Double Chance’ market.

That said, the Merseysiders head into this head-to-head having won 6 of their last 7 league games over Villa and have lost only two of their last 11 against the Midlands club.

It’s a game that tends to produce goals too – 7 of the last 8 meetings went OVER 2.5 GOALS and Liverpool have scored at least twice in their last 7 league head-to-heads over Villa. You can back 3+ goals at 1.40.

Mo Salah, who has netted 13 league goals so far this term, also have a good record against Villa – he’s scored 4 times in the last 3 head-to- heads and is on offer at 3.40 (1st) or 1.50 (anytime). Of the others from Liverpool, Jota has hit the ground running this season with 8 league goals – he’s 5.50 (1st) or 2.00 (anytime) – the same odds as Mane, while last weekend’s hero – Divock Origi – might figure late on and is 6.00 (1st) or 2.20 (anytime).

Villa’s Ollie Watkins is their current top league scorer with 4 goals – he’s on offer at 15.00 (1st) or 4.75 (anytime).

Overall, it’s a game that Liverpool will be expected to win, but at just 1.25 it will be a brave punter that loads on the Reds playing an in-form Villa side and one that now has Steven Gerrard as the boss.

Over 2.5 Goals looks a fair option, but at 1.40 not much value – so we’ll take BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE here at 1.80. Villa have netted in 10 of their last 11 games, while with home advantage it would be a huge shock if Liverpool are not scoring at least one too.

BEST BET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE @1.80