H2H: Aston Villa vs. Liverpool – Prediction (Premier League

Preview and Teams Comparison.

Liverpool have lost just one of their last 18 away league games against Aston Villa (W12 D5), winning the last five by an aggregate score of 13-1. Only against West Brom (8 games, 1983-2009) and Norwich (6 games, 1995-2016) have they had longer winning away runs in their top-flight history.

Aston Villa enter the round close to the Premier League (PL) relegation zone (W2, D1, L2) and are heavy favourites to lose again as Liverpool visit Villa Park. The ‘Villans’ have been resilient nonetheless, going unbeaten in four straight PL home matches (W2, D2), though they have lost five straight league H2Hs against Liverpool here. Villa talisman Jack Grealish has found his stride with two goals in the last three PL matches. Both arrived ‘mid-match’, in the 40th-50th minute interval. Often quick starters, Villa have scored seven and conceded three across their first halves (GD +4), while scoring eight and conceding a whopping 13 after the break (GD -5). Significantly, their record of being ahead at half-time on five occasions in ten league matches is matched/bettered by just five teams.

Aston Villa have scored first in two of three matches against opposition from last season’s top-six. Liverpool have emerged victorious after a won first half a league-high seven times this season. They eventually lost all three matches, however, conceding precisely three goals on every occasion.

Last round’s turnaround victory against Spurs was Liverpool’s sixth straight competitive match to see both teams score. Overall, this has been the case in 76.47% of the Reds’ 17 competitive matches this season, while they’ve conceded the first goal in three of their last six league fixtures. Roberto Firmino, meanwhile, remains Liverpool’s top scorer away from home (league), with two of his three strikes arriving beyond the 70th minute mark. Away from home, Liverpool have scored a majority of their goals in the first half (55.56%), and possess the best average points return (2.6) – and conceded goals average (0.6) – in the league from such matches. Liverpool also boast an even bigger winning percentage in PL away matches entered as favourites (80%) compared to last season (72.22%).