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Liverpool predicted starting line-up vs Aston Villa – as just two changes from Brentford loss made
Liverpool predicted starting lin
Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace: Match Review
How Liverpool could line-up against Aston Villa in the Premier League at Anfield.
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Liverpool welcome Aston Villa to Anfield tonight with pressure growing on Arne Slot.
Despite comfortably claiming the Premier League title in his first season as head coach, the Reds’ form this season means that Slot is under microscope. Liverpool have lost their past four Premier League games, with last weekend’s 3-2 defeat by Brentford labelled the worst performance of Slot’s tenure as head coach.
As a result of the dire run, Liverpool are already seven points behind leaders Arsenal. In addition, the Reds crashed out of the Carabao Cup earlier this week following a 3-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, with Slot opting to make wholesale changes to his team.
Clearly, the former Feyenoord supremo was prioritising the Villa clash, as well as games against Real Madrid and Manchester City next week. Villa have found their form after a tough opening and they earned a 1-0 triumph over City last week.
Liverpool have injury issues to contend with as Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones has virtually been ruled out. Slot must also be considering some changes after the Brentford game.
With everything in mind, here’s how the Reds could line-up.
Liverpool team predicted vs Villa
GK – Giorgi Mamardashvili
The summer signing from Valencia has yet to keep a clean sheet while deputising for the injured Alisson Becker. He’ll be hoping for a shutout here.
RB – Conor Bradley
The academy product has been fit for a while now so really needs to start showing his true capabilities. He should have watched Calvin Ramsay’s performance against Palace and realised that is the benchmark.
CB – Ibrahima Konate
The France international’s performances are coming under growing scrutiny and he has to improve otherwise a change may be made.
CB – Virgil van Dijk
The Liverpool captain is also under the microscope and he needs to lead by example.
LB – Andy Robertson
Milos Kerkez has started every league game so far but has had his struggles in his Liverpool career despite scoring at Brentford. Slot requires more experience and know-how which is what Robertson brings.
CM – Ryan Gravenberch
The Dutchman has missed the past three games because of an ankle injury. He has returned to training, though, and Slot will want his midfield linchpin back in from the outset to start the game strongly.
CM – Dominik Szoboszlai
One of the few Liverpool players who can really hold his head high this season. Szoboszlai has been excellent and is such an important cog.
RW – Mo Salah
Scored a consolation at Brentford but again did not do enough. Liverpool’s supposed talisman is struggling and needs to do more to justify his place in the XI.
AM – Florian Wirtz
Had a difficult start to his Liverpool career but he could be more suited to facing a Villa side that want to play on the ground.
LW – Cody Gakpo
Recorded seven goal contributions this season which has perhaps gone under the radar. Having Robertson playing behind my suit more as they know each other’s game better.
ST – Hugo Ekitike
Struggled at Brentford but the former Eintracht Frankfurt marksman has been one of Liverpool’s rare beacons of light since his arrival.
Subs
Woodman, Ramsay, Gomez, Kerkez, Endo, Mac Allister, Nyoni, Chiesa, Nguomoha.
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Arsenal injury, suspension list and return dates vs. Portsmouth: Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera latest
Arsenal will begin their bid to win the FA Cup for the 15th time in their history when they travel to Fratton Park for Sunday’s meeting with Championship strugglers Portsmouth.
The Gunners missed the chance to further extend their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League table in Thursday’s underwhelming goalless draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
While their five-game winning league run came to an end, Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the fact that his side are now unbeaten in seven competitive matches ahead of Sunday’s cup tie and Wednesday’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Here, Sports Mole rounds up all of Arsenal’s latest injury and suspension news ahead of the clash with Portsmouth, who are languishing in 21st spot in the Championship standings.
Piero Hincapie
Status: Major doubt
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Hincapie was forced off with what appeared to be a muscle problem in the 57th minute of Thursday’s draw with Liverpool. Arteta now faces a nervous wait to discover the full extent of the defender’s injury.
Kai Havertz
Status: Minor doubt
Type of injury: Match fitness
Possible return date: January 11 (vs. Portsmouth)
Havertz has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of action for months. However, he has been left out of Arsenal’s last two matchday squads as he continues to build up his fitness. There is a possibility that the forward could make his first appearance since August in Sunday’s FA Cup clash.
Riccardo Calafiori
Status: Out
Type of injury: Muscle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Calafiori has sat out Arsenal’s last four matches with a muscle injury. The defender is making progress in his recovery, but he is not expected to be ready for the upcoming trip to the south coast.
Cristhian Mosquera
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: January 14 (vs. Chelsea)
Like Calafiori, Mosquera is closing in on a return to action after missing over a month of action due to an ankle injury. However, the former Valencia defender will not be available for selection this weekend.
Max Dowman
Status: Out
Type of injury: Ankle
Possible return date: Unknown
Max Dowman is likely to be out until February after sustaining an ankle problem while playing for Arsenal Under-21s in last month’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United.
ARSENAL’S SUSPENSION LIST
Arsenal have no players suspended for the third-round tie.
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Full confirmed list of Arsenal ins and outs in January transfer window as first deal announced
Arsenal transfer ins and outs as Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta get to work in the January window
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal remain in the driving seat to clinch the Premier League title crown this season – and they could strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad to bolster their chances.
Phillip Schofield’s latest replacement revealed as Holly Willoughby gets new co-host
Whether or not the right players are out there remains to be seen, but with Arteta enduring several injury blows already this season – particularly in defence – the manager will be keeping a close eye on potential targets.
The Gunners splashed the cash in the summer, bringing in the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera to the Emirates Stadium – so a loan deal might favour the club
Gabriel Martinelli ban and fine verdicts as FA make punishment decision on Arsenal ace
There could also be high-profile exits, both loans and permanent deals, with young midfield talent Ethan Nwaneri linked with an exit. Other youngsters could also make loan moves to get a taste of first-team football.
With that said, football.london takes a closer look at all the moves completed by Arsenal so far this January.
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News Liverpool’s injury list, suspensions and availability
Read the latest information on injuries, suspensions and availability in the Liverpool men’s squad.
Injuries
Hugo Ekitike
Ekitike was unavailable for the clash with Fulham because of DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness). Arne Slot was asked whether he will be fit for the game at Arsenal on January 8.
Slot on January 7: “He has not trained with us until now and let’s see if he can today.
“I’ve said, I think, two or three days ago when we played Fulham that he is not going to be out for long but because games come so fast he is in between maybe training with the team or it would take him one or two days extra.”
Wataru Endo
The midfielder has been out of action with an ankle injury since appearing in the 3-3 draw at Leeds United on December 6.
Alexander Isak
Isak is facing a spell on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture on December 22.
He sustained the issue while scoring against Tottenham Hotspur two days prior.
Slot on December 23: “It’s going to be a long injury. For a couple of months. That’s a big, big, big disappointment for him and as a result of that of course also for us.”
Slot did also confirm he is confident Isak will be able to play again during the 2025-26 season.
Giovanni Leoni
The defender is amid a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the end of his debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Slot on September 26: “He is not in a good place, of course, because he tore his ACL and it means he will be out for a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game… it’s very hard to take the positive side.
“There’s never a positive side – but you always try to look at a positive side and that is that he is still so young, so he has so many years still to go after he recovers from a terrible injury like that.”
Availability
Mohamed Salah
After featuring off the bench versus Brighton on December 13, the forward is now with Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Salah scored in the group games against Zimbabwe and South Africa to help his country reach the last 16. They are next in action on January 5.
Suspensions
Conor Bradley
Bradley is one yellow card away from receiving a one-match suspension in the Champions League.
The Reds travel to Marseille on January 21 for matchday seven of the league phase and then host Qarabag a week later.
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