Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE - team news, line-ups, TV channel, kick ...
Liverpool are in Premier League action at Anfield for the final time this season as they host Aston Villa in their penultimate game of the Premier League campaign.
The Reds will be looking to extend their winning run to eight in all competitions and follow up Monday's emphatic victory at Leicester City with another fine performance.
Off the pitch, however, it is anticipated to be an emotion-filled afternoon as the club waves goodbye to James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in their final matches at Anfield as Liverpool players, with all four moving on to pastures new once their contracts expire on June 30.
Aston Villa, though, will be in no mood to bow to the sentiment as they look to play the role of party poopers and strengthen their chances of bringing European football to Villa Park next season. Since Unai Emery succeeded Steven Gerrard at the West Midlands outfit, Villa have been one of the most in-form sides in the division.
Kicking off at 3pm, Paul Gorst, Ian Doyle and Theo Squires will all be at Anfield to bring you all the build-up, analysis and reaction to the fixture.
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13:24Theo Squires
As Doyley says, with Liverpool still having something to play, Jurgen Klopp can’t be too sentimental today despite the urge to hand out some final Anfield starts. I’d make only one change to the side that beat Leicester, with Diogo Jota starting in place of Luis Diaz. Having trained in the week, Roberto Firmino should be on the bench.
Fingers crossed for a straight-forward win, with the Brazilian and James Milner, at least, getting a good cameo off the bench. Will be interesting to see if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is handed a final matchday squad appearance too.
As for Naby Keita, he wasn’t pictured training in the week. Klopp said yesterday that Darwin Nunez and the long-term injured players were the only absentees, so who knows if that denies the Guinean a final home appearance or not.
13:16Ian Doyle
Of course, Liverpool still have something to play for in terms of an outside chance of Champions League football.
Anything but victory here will not be enough, and even then it could all be over the next time they play on the final day at Southampton next weekend.
I wouldn’t expect Klopp to make too many changes to the side that won at Leicester City on Monday.
13:11Ian Doyle
A very actually rather warm welcome to the latest game in Liverpool’s season.
Yes, it’s the Premier League, it’s Aston Villa and it’s the final home game of the campaign.
A campaign, by the way, which has literally gone on FOREVER. Not sure about you lot, but I’m rather pleased it’s coming to an end.
But the Liverpool fans will be somewhat less enthused at saying goodbye to four players who all played a part in success under Klopp.
To paraphrase a former Wimbledron midfielder, it’s going to be emotional…
13:08Keifer MacDonald
Anfield is looking wonderful this afternoon
For one last time this season… pic.twitter.com/J3f8F3H9lr
— James Carroll (@James_Carroll84) May 20, 202313:00Keifer MacDonald
Some interesting pre-match stats for you to digest ahead of this afternoon's game:
The Reds have won nine of their last ten Premier League games against Aston Villa - with the only loss being that 7-2 defeat at Villa Park during the 20/21.
Mohamed Salah has scored in each of his last nine Anfield appearances - a Liverpool record.
Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have taken more points than Villa's 45 since Unai Emery's appointment.
12:41Keifer MacDonald
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has delivered a glowing tribute to Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita ahead of their Anfield farewells on Saturday afternoon.
Aston Villa travel to Merseyside for the Reds' final home game of the Premier League campaign, with a place in next season's Champions League still the focus for Jurgen Klopp and his side as they look to place themselves in a strong standing should either Newcastle United or Manchester United falter in their remaining fixtures.
However, Saturday's quest for a return to UEFA's premier competition will be a mere footnote in the Anfield annals in years to come as supporters brace themselves to wave goodbye to two of the most notable players of the Klopp era: Firmino and Milner, who have spent eight years and the club since signing under former manager Brendan Rodgers in the summer of 2015.
As reported by the ECHO at the beginning of March, the Brazilian turned fresh terms on Merseyside in favour of pursuing the final years of his career elsewhere after falling behind Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo in the Reds' forward ranks. Meanwhile, earlier this week, the club confirmed Milner, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita would be joining the No.9 in leaving the club next month when their current deals expire.
Writing in the matchday programme ahead of Saturday's game, Henderson delivered a sincere reflection on the quartet and their careers at Anfield.
"Given this is my final column of the season, I have to use these pages to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements of players who will rightly be regarded as Liverpool icons for generations to come," wrote Henderson.
Read Henderson's full story, here.
Keifer MacDonald
Liverpool have clocked up seven Premier League wins on the bounce - but there is further work for them to do to gate-crash the top-four positions and snatch Champions League qualification this season.
With two games remaining, Jurgen Klopp and the Reds are one point behind fourth-placed rivals Manchester United knowing they, realistically, need to extend their winning run to maintain their chances. United have an extra fixture to play, too, heading into this latest matchday.
Aston Villa are the visitors to Anfield on Saturday afternoon (3pm) and they too harbour European hopes this season following a remarkable upturn since Unai Emery replaced Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as manager. Here's how you can follow the action unfold right across the board;
All the TV details ahead of this afternoon's game, here.
Keifer MacDonald
For someone whose beaming, shiny white smile has become almost as synonymous as his football ability, Roberto Firmino is in absolutely no doubt about what will happen when the final whistle blows on Liverpool's last home game of the season against Aston Villa on Saturday.
"After the game, I will cry 100%," he says. "It’s a special day for me. It will be emotional for me and for my family."
So, too, his team-mates and a packed Anfield who will pay homage to an undisputed Liverpool legend who has arguably become the true representation of the era of success under Jurgen Klopp.
While Firmino is one of four Liverpool players - James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita the others - who will bid farewell with their contracts expiring in the summer, there's no doubt the greatest affection will be afforded to the Brazilian, who has long been a crowd favourite since arriving from Hoffenheim eight years ago.
That became apparent during Monday's Premier League win at Leicester City when Firmino, who was a non-playing member of the travelling party, was serenaded with his trademark 'Si Senor' song for much of the second half before being given a huge ovation from the away end and his fellow players after the game.
"To be honest, I was surprised because the game was away," says the 31-year-old. "They knew I wasn't on the bench but sat behind it. I was very emotional but I was very happy. I loved it and want to say thank you to all of them for the support and the love and affection they’ve shown me.
Read the full interview from Ian Doyle, here.
Keifer MacDonald
Good afternoon, Reds!
Liverpool are back in Premier League action at Anfield for the final time this season as Aston Villa make the trip to L4 this afternoon.
Although the Reds will be looking to keep up the pressure on both Newcastle United and Manchester United in the hope of clinching a Champions League qualification spot, events at Anfield this afternoon are expected to be overshadowed by the departures off the pitch as the club waves goodbye to James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in their final matches at Anfield as Liverpool players, with all four players moving on to pastures new once their contracts expire on June 30.
Aston Villa, though, will be in no mood to bow to the sentiment as they look to play the roles of party poopers and strengthen their chances of bringing European football to Villa Park next season. Since Unai Emery succeeded Steven Gerrard at the West Midlands outfit, Villa have been one of the most in-form sides in the division.
Stay tuned for all the build-up live from Anfield.
