Liverpool Look To Continue Unbeaten Streak Against Villa

Aston Villa host the improving Liverpool tomorrow aiming to grab their first victory in the league since the 2-1 win recorded at home against bottom side Leicester City in December. The West Midlands club have remained unbeaten at home since this result, notching up draws against Manchester United, Sunderland and Crystal Palace, but have had the effect of this somewhat diluted by their inability to win on the road.

Saturday`s opponents are currently on a seven game unbeaten run in all competitions, the side having won all of their last four games on their travels. Manager Brendan Rodgers will be hoping to grab another three points tomorrow to further rise up the Premier League table, they could move to sixth position if other results go their way, and further cast a doubt over Villa`s top tier survival credentials.

As a result of the two teams gulf in form, Liverpool are the 10/11 (bet365, Bwin) favourites to leave Villa Park with all three points. Paul Lambert`s side are a 4/1 chance with betfred, Betvictor and Totesport to claim a big scalp and send their rivals back to Merseyside empty handed. Thirteen to Five (bet365, Betvictor, boylesports, Coral) says that the match will be tied upon the final whistle.

These two teams met at Anfield back in September with Gabby Agbonlahor scoring the only goal of the game in the ninth minute. This win saw the Aston outfit continue their four game unbeaten run in the league and had the Reds mourning their third successive loss. The last time the Villans did the double over Liverpool was back in the 1992/93 campaign.

Former England international Agbonlahor is a 15/4 chance with Bwin and Spreadex to strike it lucky again tomorrow.

Not only player managed to hit the back of the net in the club`s last game away at Leicester as Lambert`s men looked to do the double over the East Midlands strugglers. Villa had no reply to centre-back Paul Konchesky`s 45th minute volley meaning that they have now gone 360 minutes without a goal in the league.

The club had previously lost a goal to nil at Swansea`s Liberty City Stadium before recording goalless draws against both Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

Christian Benteke bagged a goal two minutes from time, however, as the Premier League side saw off basement Championship club Blackpool 1-0.

This profligacy means that Villa are a massive 10/3 (Coral) to score more than two goals and are 2/9 (betfair) to fail in this task. Benteke, who is the club`s joint top scorer with Agbonlahor and Andreas Weimann having grabbed three goals in all competitions this season can be backed at 13/2 (Betvictor, paddy Power, Stan James) to open the scoring tomorrow afternoon.

Eighth placed Liverpool have had no such trouble finding the back of the net, though have struggled with the acquisition of clean sheets. Last season`s Premier League runners-up have only not conceded on three occasions in their last eleven matches. This includes games against Championship side Bournemouth, League 2`s AFC Wimbledon and two games with the bottom of the table Foxes.

They did manage to keep out Sunderland`s attackers in their 1-0 victory over the side last time out. Lazar Markovic scored within the first ten minutes to see of the Black Cats and record their third win in four league games. Rodgers` men are 11/8 with Skybet to kept their first consecutive clean sheets of this campaign.

In team news, Villa`s defensive woes continue after a red card picked up by Ciaran Clark in their Leicester City clash means that the 25-year-old is unavailable for selection. He joins fellow centre-halves Philippe Senderos and Ron Vlaar on the sidelines.

New Valencia signing Charles Gil is set to be benched. Liverpool may call upon the services of Adam Lallana, who has recovered from a thigh injury, or hand young Jordan Ibe an appearance after being recalled from his loan spell at Championship high-flyers Derby.

Go To bet365

#Ad

16/01/2015     © Frixo 2026