Key occasions
The Premier League desk going into tonight's recreation
Premier League consequence: Spurs 0-1 Chelsea
Joao Pedro's purpose gave Chelsea victory at Spurs – however they might have received by 4 or 5. Scott Murray is following that one.
Arne Slot makes three adjustments from final Saturday's defeat at Brentford. Andy Robertson replaces the struggling Milos Kerkez at left-back; Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister are available for Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz.
Only one modified to the Villa facet that beat Manchester Metropolis: Evann Guessand is available in for the injured Emi Buendia.
Group information
Liverpool (4-2-3-1) Mamardashvili; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo; Ekitike.
Subs: Woodman, Pecsi, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Wirtz, Chiesa, Nyoni, Ngumoha.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1) Martinez; Money, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Onana, Kamara; Guessand, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
Subs: Bizot, Maatsen, Lindelof, Mings, Bogarde, Barkley, Sancho, Malen, Broggio.
Referee Stuart Attwell.
Andy Hunter
Arne Slot has mentioned the Liverpool hierarchy share his views on the explanations for the crew's stoop and he is not going to abandon an attacking fashion looking for a method out. The top coach admitted that six defeats in seven video games was unacceptable earlier than Aston Villa's go to on Saturday and denied making excuses for Liverpool's worst home run in 72 years.
Slot accepted the strain was on earlier than his makeshift crew exited the Carabao Cup towards Crystal Palace on Wednesday. That strain to arrest the slide, nevertheless, isn't, he insisted, coming from Liverpool's proprietor, Fenway Sports activities Group, FSG's chief government of soccer, Michael Edwards, or the sporting director, Richard Hughes, after a summer season switch outlay of virtually £450m.
Learn extra…
Preamble
In a dim, distant previous – 5 and a bit weeks in the past – Liverpool had been high of the Premier League, 12 factors away from 18th-placed Aston Villa. Now the 2 golf equipment are degree on factors, snuggled collectively in mid-table.
Villa's restoration is a reminder that issues change in a short time in soccer; that dangerous patches are nearly unavoidable and also you simply must journey them out. Simpler mentioned than achieved, particularly whenever you:
a) are the reigning champions
b) are one of many greatest golf equipment on the planet
c) spent eye-watering wonga in the summertime and
d) exist in a tradition that has gone utterly mad
The excellent news for Arne Slot is that there's a easy answer: if Liverpool win tonight, the bloodlustful plenty will look elsewhere. At the least till the subsequent recreation.
Kick off 8pm.
