Premier League: Can Villa Upset Table Toppers Again?

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Aston Villa may not win the Premier League this season but, under the astute management of Unai Emery, have shown on a fair few occasions they are more than capable of undermining a title challenge.

Take last season, for example, when they saw off champions Manchester City and, crucially, completed a league double over Arsenal – the latter 2-0 win at the Emirates Stadium in April was effectively the game that cost the Gunners the chance to end their 20-year title drought.

A few weeks later they also produced a stirring late, late comeback to effectively complete a month of misery for a Liverpool side which had been clear at the top at Easter, yet contrived to finish third.

They’ve been at it again this season too and, only a month ago, fought back from 2-0 down at Emery’s former club to inflict more damage on Arsenal.

All in all then, there’s no reason why a squad strengthened by some smart moves in the January transfer window can’t have another big say in the title race in midweek when they host the leaders from the red half of Merseyside.

Talking Points

This will be Villa’s second game in a run of five matches in just 14 days for Emery’s team, who also face Chelsea and Crystal Palace in the league and Cardiff City in the FA Cup before the end of the month.

The Villa boss, who has voiced his frustrations at Villa’s busy schedule, will have been dismayed to see Boubacar Kamara limp off after just 15 minutes in their 1-1 draw with Ipswich on Saturday, joining an injury list which already contains fellow defenders Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash.

That result extended their winless top-flight run to four matches, their last victory coming against Everton at Goodison Park in mid-January, so now would be a good time to put that right and deliver Premier League 2025 highlights.

The SBOTOP title favourites Liverpool know this is one of their biggest remaining tests this season and emerged from a nervous display at home to Wolves at the weekend with three points.

Any dropped points will surely give Arsenal a glimmer of hope in what is currently a one-way title race.

History

Mohamed Salah scored in Liverpool's last premier League match against Aston Villa — Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring against Everton

Who could forget their meeting in the corresponding fixture last May when the recently departed Jhon Duran became an instant hero and sparked a series of puns relating to the famous British pop group Duran Duran.

A six-goal thriller seemed to be heading the way of the visitors who led 3-1 with five minutes remaining, thanks to an own goal, Cody Gapko and young defender Jarell Quansah.

In his penultimate game in charge, Jurgen Klopp seemed a happy man.

However, a double from Duran, after an early Youri Tielemans equaliser, had Villa Park rocking in one of the games of the season.

When I think of this game, I am also reminded of a contest in 2020 as Villa hit seven to humble the then defending champions at Villa Park under the management of Dean Smith.

Villa have beaten Liverpool on 59 occasions since their very first meeting in 1894. Liverpool have won 103 times, while 42 of the meetings have ended all square.

That also includes the Merseysiders winning 34 of the 58 top-flight meetings with Villa, including this corresponding fixture last season when Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah found the net for the hosts (there was also an own goal) without reply.

In fact, they have only lost one of their last 13 clashes.

Earlier this season, goals from Darwin Nunez and Salah, who is leading the way as the league’s top marksman, earned Liverpool a 2-0 home win.