Aston Villa vs Liverpool

By the conclusion of Wednesday night’s matches, the gap between first and second place in the Premier League standings could extend to a remarkable 10 points if Liverpool manage to overcome Aston Villa.

Arne Slot’s side surpassed the 60-point mark over the weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers, while their upcoming opponents were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against struggling Ipswich Town.

Liverpool, still recovering from the intensity of their midweek Merseyside derby both physically and mentally, looked to be cruising towards a comfortable win against Wolves at Anfield. However, they nearly undid all their efforts in the second half. Luis Diaz opened the scoring in unconventional fashion, directing the ball into the net off his midriff, before Mohamed Salah coolly converted a penalty. Despite their strong start, Liverpool became increasingly careless in possession, allowing Wolves to capitalize. Matheus Cunha’s stunning long-range effort rewarded the visitors for their perseverance, setting up a tense finale.

Unlike their dramatic collapse against Everton, Liverpool managed to hold firm and secure three crucial points. However, they failed to register a single shot on target in the second half—a statistic unprecedented for them in a Premier League home game at Anfield since official records began.

Even with their struggles, Slot’s team has reasserted a seven-point advantage over Arsenal, who will not return to action until Saturday. This means Liverpool can extend their lead into double digits with a 19th league win of the season when they take on Aston Villa midweek.

Liverpool’s visit to the West Midlands marks the start of a daunting run of fixtures that will truly test their title credentials. Following their clash with Villa, they face a critical showdown against Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday before hosting Newcastle United at Anfield on February 26.

For now, their immediate focus is on rectifying their inconsistent away form, having won just two of their last seven matches in all competitions outside Anfield. That said, their Premier League away record remains impressive, as they are yet to suffer a defeat on the road in the 2024-25 season.

Meanwhile, Aston Villa have also been enjoying an extended unbeaten run at home, stretching their undefeated streak at Villa Park to 12 matches across all competitions. However, their 1-1 draw against 10-man Ipswich last weekend will have felt like a missed opportunity for Unai Emery’s squad.

With the visitors reduced to 10 men following Axel Tuanzebe’s dismissal, it seemed Villa were destined for victory. Yet, Ipswich defied expectations by taking the lead through Liam Delap. Villa responded through Ollie Watkins, who was on hand to tap in the rebound after Marcus Rashford’s free-kick struck the woodwork.

Despite relentless attacking efforts, Villa were repeatedly denied by Ipswich goalkeeper Alex Palmer, who produced a stellar debut performance. The frustrating result has further dented Villa’s hopes of securing a top-four finish, leaving them in ninth place and six points adrift of Manchester City, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

Although Villa still have a pathway to Europe’s elite competition by winning this season’s Champions League, their recent form does not inspire confidence. A run of just two victories in their last seven matches across all competitions hardly reflects the standard of potential European champions. Moreover, their defensive frailties at home remain a major concern, with eight consecutive matches at Villa Park passing without a clean sheet.

Compounding their challenge is their poor record against Liverpool. Their most recent meeting in November saw them fall to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield, extending their winless streak against the Reds to nine matches. The painful memories of their stunning 7-2 triumph over Liverpool in 2020 now seem like a distant dream.

With both teams aiming to achieve their respective ambitions—Liverpool tightening their grip on the title race and Villa striving for a European berth—this clash promises to be a pivotal encounter in their campaigns.