At A Glance
Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield as a head coach for the first time on Saturday to take on the club with whom he is synonymous.
The Aston Villa boss made 504 Premier League appearances for the Reds but is now tasked with toppling his former side as he looks to build on a run of three wins in his first four games since taking over at Villa Park.
Last time out, a strong display saw Villa overcome Leicester City 2-1 thanks to a brace from defender Ezri Konsa.
Liverpool are yet to lose at Anfield in the league this season, winning four and drawing three of their seven games on home turf.
Jurgen Klopp’s team have put together a six-game unbeaten run across all competitions, seeing off AC Milan 2-1 in the Champions League in midweek.
Mohamed Salah, who has 20 goals to his name this season, spearheads a potent Reds attack that has seen Liverpool score nine more goals than any other top-flight side this term.
Visiting Fan Information
If you're heading to Anfield on Saturday, click the link below to download Liverpool FC's Visiting Fan Information guide. Please note supporters are required to wear a mask in all indoor areas of the stadium unless you are exempt.
Standout Stats
Liverpool have won six of their last seven Premier League games against Aston Villa (L1), scoring at least twice in all seven games.
After a four-game unbeaten away run against Liverpool in the Premier Leaguebetween 2012 and 2014, Aston Villa have now lost each of their last three visits to Anfield in the competition.
Aston Villa against Liverpool has been won by the away side on 20 occasions in the Premier League, with only Manchester City vs Manchester United (21) seeing more away wins in the competition’s history.
Only Arsenal against Liverpool (6) has seen more hat-tricks scored than Aston Villa vs Liverpool (4) in Premier League history, with Villa’s Ollie Watkins the last player to score one in October 2020.
Liverpool have won their last two home Premier League matches 4-0, against Arsenal and Southampton. The Reds haven’t won three consecutive home league games by a margin of at least four goals since September/October 1987, beating Derby, Portsmouth and QPR 4-0 back then.
Liverpool lost eight of their first 12 Premier League games in 2021 (W3 D1), failing to score on seven occasions in that run. Since then, the Reds have scored in all 25 of their Premier League games and lost just once (W18 D6).
With an expected goals against total of 18.6, Aston Villa (24 goals conceded) have shipped just over five goals more than expected based on the quality of chances they’ve faced – only Norwich and Crystal Palace have more this season. However, the Villans have also scored (21) around five more than their xG suggests (16.2), with only Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham over performing more this term.
Aston Villa have won three of their four Premier League games under Steven Gerrard (L1), as many as they had in 11 games under Dean Smith this season (D1 L7). Gerrard is looking to be the first Villa manager to win his first two Premier League away games in charge of the club since John Gregory (first 5 in 1998).
This will be Steven Gerrard’s first match against Liverpool as a manager, the club he played for 710 times in all competitions, the third-most in the Reds’ history. Former players managing against the Reds at Anfield in the Premier League have lost 14 of their last 16 visits (W1 D1), with Kevin Keegan the last former Liverpool player to win there, in May 2003 with Manchester City.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has either scored or assisted a goal in 13 consecutive Premier League games, setting up Divock Origi’s late winner against Wolves last time out. It’s the second longest run of consecutive games with a goal involvement in the competition’s history, after Jamie Vardy’s run of 15 between August and December 2015.
The Last Meeting
Trent Alexander-Arnold broke Villa hearts with an injury-time winner as Liverpool came from behind to win at Anfield in April.
Ollie Watkins had put the visitors ahead after 43 minutes and they led 1-0 at the break.
But a goal from Mohamed Salah pulled the Reds level with an hour played before Alexander-Arnold’s late heroics.
Team News
Barring a late setback, Steven Gerrard says Danny Ings will return to Villa’s matchday squad, with Morgan Sanson also recovering from illness in time for the game.
Matt Targett is also fit, though Bertrand Traore and Leon Bailey remain sidelined.
Liverpool welcomed Roberto Firmino back into training this week, while fellow attacker Jota has had to sit out after picking up a knock against Wolves last weekend.
The Reds will be without Nathaniel Phillips, who sustained a fractured cheekbone in midweek, Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott.
The Boss
“For me, I really respect and understand all the noise around the game for obvious reasons because I’m going back to a club where I spent many years. So it brings a smile to my face for a couple of reasons. One, because I’ve obviously got a good relationship with a lot of people at the club, I had a fantastic time there, a really good journey, I’m a local boy, the team I supported growing up and I always will support that team, of course. But at the same time, it brings a smile to my face because I’ve got the opportunity to go there and compete against a good team, a good manager, with the opportunity to try and win the game. And that’s my only main focus. I think the noise is for other people to get excited about. For me, it’s about preparing the team in the best way I can to try and get a positive result for Aston Villa, and that’s the way I will be.”
Steven Gerrard
