Liverpool v Aston Villa: Premier League – BBC Sport

Having won just one of their six Premier League home games against Aston Villa between 2009 and 2014 (D2 L3), Liverpool have now won five of their last six at Anfield against the Villans (D1).

Only Manchester United (12) and Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League away games against Liverpool than Aston Villa (6, level with Arsenal).

Aston Villa have lost 16 of their last 18 away Premier League games against teams who entered the day top of the table (D2), including each of their last nine in a row. In fact, they have only won one of their 23 such games, beating Leeds United 2-1 at Elland Road in January 2000.

Liverpool have conceded the first goal in their last two Premier League games, but have not suffered a defeat in either game (2-2 against Arsenal, 2-1 against Brighton). In fact, their win against Brighton marked the 100th time they came from behind to win a Premier League game, the third team to reach that milestone in the competition.

Aston Villa’s two Premier League defeats this season have come against the two north London sides, most recently losing 4-1 to Tottenham. The Villans lost their last league games in a row in May 2023.

Only Manchester City (32) have had fewer shots on target than Liverpool (34) in the Premier League this season, with the Reds also conceding the fewest goals (6) and recording the lowest xG-against value this season (8.1 ).

No team has scored more Premier League goals from crosses (6) or set pieces (5, excluding penalties) this season than Aston Villa (tied with Arsenal on both counts).

Liverpool’s Arne Slot is only the fifth coach to win eight of his first ten Premier League games in charge, following John Gregory (1998), Guus Hiddink (2009), Carlo Ancelotti (2009) and Ange Postecoglou (2023). Of the previous four, only Postecoglou failed to win its eleventh game in the competition.

No player has been involved in more Premier League goals so far this season than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (12 – 7 goals, 5 assists). The Egyptian also had the most ball contacts in the opponent’s penalty area this season (96), while of the players with more than 20 shots, none hit the target with a higher percentage (67% – 20/30).

Only Erling Haaland (16) has had more big chances in the Premier League this season than Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (14). However, Watkins only scored four of them, which is the lowest conversion rate of all seven players with more than 10 big chances (28.6%).