Liverpool v Aston Villa: Premier League football betting preview, free tip & TV

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Liverpool v Aston Villa in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League/Main Event, 4.30pm Sunday

Best bet

Liverpool-Liverpool double result
1pt 10-11 bet365, Coral

Team news

Liverpool
Joel Matip is out for the rest of the season with a foot injury and Dejan Lovren is doubtful with a knock, but Xherdan Shaqiri has returned to training and could be back in the squad.

Aston Villa
Matt Targett has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury and joins Bjorn Engels (Achilles), Wesley and Tom Heaton (both knee) on the sidelines. Fit-again pair Frederic Guilbert and Danny Drinkwater are in contention but Ezri Konsa is a doubt.

Match preview

Relegation-threatened Aston Villa will be bracing themselves for a Liverpool backlash when the Premier League champions host Dean Smith's strugglers.

The Reds' halo slipped ever so slightly on Thursday when they were humbled 4-0 by Manchester City and they will want to prove it was merely a post title-winning hangover that affected them at the Etihad as they look to resume normal service.

Jurgen Klopp's men were clearly off the pace against a determined City, but they should have no problems turning over the Midlanders, who are in the bottom three and a point adrift of safety.

Villa are in desperate need of victories and are running out of time to get themselves out of trouble with a swift return to the Sky Bet Championship looking increasingly likely.

They have failed to win any of their four games since the league resumed, drawing with Sheffield United and Newcastle and losing narrowly to Wolves and Chelsea, so what they didn't want next in their relegation fight was a trip to Anfield, where Liverpool boast a 100 per cent winning record in the league this season.

Trying to be the first team to stop Liverpool winning at home is a massive task, especially as Klopp has made it clear he will resist the urge to make wholesale changes. He may freshen it up, though, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Takumi Minamino among those hoping for recalls.

Positivity is thin on the ground for Villa but all four of their recent games have been tight affairs. They have shipped a worrying 60 goals this term, though - the joint-worst defensive record in the division along with rock-bottom Norwich.

Liverpool should comfortably have enough to come out on top to increase Villa's relegation worries. The Reds are expected to dominate from the start as they aim to get the City defeat out of their system.

Key stat

Villa have won just twice away from home all season.

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