FA Cup 3rd round preview: Aston Villa vs Liverpool – Villa look to rattle favourites Liverpool again Updated for September 2024

Updated: 18th September 2024

2020-21 FA Cup 3rd round preview: Aston Villa vs. Liverpool – Villa Park – Friday, 8 January 2021 – 19:45 BST

Both Aston Villa and Liverpool will be going into Friday's FA Cup 3rd round clash on the back of losses to Manchester United and Southampton respectively.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds will still have the 7-2 thrashing metted to them by their forthcoming opponents in October at the back of their when they enter Villa Park.

As far as the Premier League points table goes, Aston Villa are only 7 points behind Liverpool with two games in hand. Dean Smith's men went through 5 unbeaten games till their loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Much in contrast to their overwhelming form at home at “fortress” Anfield, the Reds' show on the road has been distinctly below par. While they have won all but one of their 8 outings in the Premier League at home, Liverpool have managed just 2 wins, 2 draws and lost two on the road.

Villa's story is quite similar to their opponents, with their home and away forms reading 3W/1D/3L and 5W/1D/2L respectively.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool Recent Form

Aston Villa form guide: WDWWDL

Liverpool form guide: DWWDDL

Liverpool’s formidable front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino all featured for the full 90 minutes during Monday night’s 1-0 defeat at Southampton and also in the goalless draw against Newcastle before that, throwing up questions about their invincibility – something that could compel Klopp to give the likes of Divock Origi and Takumi Minamino a start on Friday.

Klopp will probably go in with the same line-up that started in the loss to Southampton while Villa with no fitness issues as such will the same set of players that starting against Manchester United.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool Likely Starting

Aston Villa probable line-up: Martinez (goal), Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, McGinn, Grealish, El Ghazi, Watkins, Traore.

Liverpool probable line-up: Alisson (goal), Robertson, Alexander-Arnold, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Thiago, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Firmino, Mane, Salah.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool Verdict & Suggested bets

The visiting Reds are favourites to progress into the 4th round despite their October debacle and odds are at 1/1 (Bet365) for them to win it at Villa Park. Villa with winning odds of 12/5 (Bet365) have in their forward line players like Bertrand Traore, Ollie Watkins, Jack Grealish and Anwar El Ghazi who are more than capable of turning the tables on Liverpool.

With Liverpool not in the best of scoring and their frontal trio totally off-colour and Villa not at their best on home turf, it is difficult to predict who could find the back of the net.

Some of the other bets on (Bwin)

• Villa to win in 90 mins @ 23/10
• Villa to go through: 7/5
• Both Teams To Score in first half: 5/2

A score of 1-2 in favour of Liverpool is being predicted, but with hosts' home form not very impressive and Liverpool struggling in away games, the result could go either way and the game could well boil down to penalties.

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