Liverpool will play their penultimate game of the season at Aston Villa on Monday night, Jurgen Klopp’s last away match.
Aston Villa vs. Liverpool
Premier League (37) | Villa Park
May 13, 2024 | 20:00 (BST)
We all hoped this would be a bigger match than it was, with too many poor recent results ending the Reds’ Premier League title chances.
However, it is important for Klopp to bow out, with his side battling a Villa side who look good for next season’s Champions League.
Here’s everything you need to know before the game.
1. Klopp’s last day away from Liverpool
After almost nine years, Klopp is leading his Liverpool team for the last time.
It’s been an incredible run under the German, who has engineered so many great wins on his travels, and those heading to Villa Park will be in for a treat.
Importantly, Klopp’s last few games have not been a damp squib, and having beaten Tottenham 4-2 last weekend, another three points suggest a corner has been turned.
They encounter strong opposition, however…
2. Villa one of the teams of the season
Back in August, Villa were probably tipped to seal Europa League football, but nobody expected it to be this impressive.
Unai Emery – manager of the season candidate – has done an incredible job since replacing Steven Gerrard and his side are now all but certain to finish fourth.
The Spaniard has built a great team from back to front, with World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez and star Ollie Watkins both key men, among many others.
Liverpool will have their work cut out for them on Monday.
3. Who is missing for Liverpool?
There was no sign of both Andy Robertson and Diogo Jota training on Friday, suggesting the Liverpool pair are major doubts.
Jota has not featured since scoring in the 3-1 win away to Fulham last month and is not expected to feature.
Joel Matip, Thiago, Bobby Clark and Ben Doak are all out and none of the quartet will feature again this season.
4. Unchanged or 1 forced replacement?
Klopp is likely to go with a similar starting line-up to the one that saw off Spurs last time – could we even see an unchanged XI for just the second time in 2023/24, if Robertson is fit?
That would mean Jarell Quansah will keep his place ahead of Ibrahima Konate, which he feels is deserved, with Harvey Elliott also starting.
The 21-year-old is likely guaranteed more starts this season, and with Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones not at their best, he could be retained.
Mohamed Salah, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo are likely to form an attacking unit, but Darwin Nunez will be desperate to silence the doubters.
Potential Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Quansah, Van Dijk, Gomez; Endo, Elliott, Mac Allister; Wrong, Diaz, Gakpo.
5. How will Villa line up?
European duty has kept Villa busy of late, so legs could be tired after Thursday’s European Conference outing against Olympiakos.
Emery is unlikely to make many changes, but if he does, expect much of the same at Villa Park.
This would mean Matty Cash and Lucas Digne being used as wing-backs, Douglas Luiz leading the midfield and Watkins leading the line.
Tyrone Mings, Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Ramsey, Emiliano Buendia, Nicolo Zaniolo and Morgan Rogers are all out, highlighting how well Villa have done despite so many injuries.
Leon Bailey is also a doubt, having limped off against Olympiakos.
Possible Villa XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Luiz, Tielemans; Diaby, McGinn, Bailey; Watkins
6. Klopp knows how to avoid the referee’s attention!
Speaking at his penultimate pre-match press conference at Liverpool, Klopp vowed to avoid the yellow card that would have ruled him out for the Wolves game:
“I’ve known that for a long time. When did I get the second yellow card?
“Otherwise, we could turn it around and say that I only have two yellow cards! I think a few of my colleagues have been suspended, haven’t they?
“Hmm! So over the years, apparently, I calmed down. I don’t have to (be on the line), but it would be great if I could!
“It won’t be from my side. I will do my absolute best not to get involved in any discussions.”
On your best behavior, Jurgen!
7. Liverpool record at Villa Park
Liverpool have had plenty of success at Villa Park, with Sadio Mane’s last-gasp winner in 2019/20 an iconic moment in their title-winning season.
There was also Steven Gerrard’s memorable late free-kick on the opening weekend of the 2007/08 season, and there the good memories outweigh the bad.
The last time Liverpool lost to Villa was a bizarre 7-2 defeat behind closed doors during the 2020/21 covid season – we’re not counting that!
Incidentally, the Reds are unbeaten in the Premier League at Villa Park since May 2011, when Stuart Downing’s goal earned the hosts a 1-0 victory shortly before the move to Anfield.
In the Premier League era, Liverpool have won 16, drawn five and lost seven away to the Villans.
8. Did you know?
Emery has faced Liverpool 10 times so far as a coach.
His first meeting with the Reds was in the 2016 Europa League final, as his Sevilla side secured a 3-1 victory in Basel.
Since then, Emery is winless in nine attempts, drawing twice and losing seven times.
The 52-year-old’s teams have conceded 26 goals in that time and have never kept a clean sheet against Liverpool.
9. Simon Hooper takes control
Simon Hooper is the referee on Monday night, in a slot that will no doubt delight Klopp!
He was infamously in charge away at Spurs when Diaz’s goal was wrongly disallowed by VAR, and is generally not rated by the Liverpool manager.
This is Hooper’s fifth Reds game of the season, one of which was a 3-0 win at home to Villa in September.
We can’t wait to see who will be the referee for Klopp’s last game!
10. Follow the match with TIA
Aston Villa v Liverpool is Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football pick – coverage begins on Sky Sports’ main event at 6.30pm (BST) with the game kicking off at 8pm.
Henry Jackson is on the TIA live blog from 7.15pm, overseeing Klopp’s latest away outing and hopefully guiding you through an enjoyable evening.
Come on, Red!
