After losing 3-1 to defending champions Manchester City in their second match of the season, Liverpool rebounded with a 3-0 blowout of previously unbeaten Tottenham and look every bit the championship contenders they are. Next in Liverpool’s path is another unbeaten squad, Aston Villa.
Liverpool isn’t the only championship contender seeking to cover lost ground. Manchester City take on Arsenal after suffering a defeat against Stoke City. You can view the preview for that match here. In the meantime, read on for all you need to know about the action about to happen in Anfield Stadium.
[sc:Soccer ]Liverpool vs. Aston Villa Betting Preview and Prediction
Where: Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, England
When: Saturday, September 13, 12:30 PM ET
Line: Aston Villa +1,025 at Liverpool -550, tie +470, total 3.0 – view all EPL Lines
Why This Game Matters
[sc:Soccer240banner ]Aston Villa find themselves third in the Premier League with seven points after going undefeated in three Premier League games with two wins and a draw. On the other hand, Liverpool endured a tough loss on the road against defending champions Manchester City in between wins against Southampton and a dangerous Tottenham side to sit at fifth.
Both teams are looking to solidify their strong starts with a game that should be closely contested.
Betting on Liverpool
With last season’s leading goal scorer Luis Suarez now gone, Liverpool are banking on their new £16 million signing, Mario Balotelli, to fill-in the void.
Balotelli put on an unselfish display in his debut against Spurs on August 31. However, it wasn’t a game full of praises for the Italian striker. He failed to find the back of the net despite having five total shots, including misfiring on a welcome opportunity to score at an open goal.
Still, given more time to familiarize himself with Liverpool’s system and the players around him, Baloteli willl be able to channel the form that saw him tear it up for AC Milan with 14 goals and six assists in 30 appearances (five as a substitute) in Serie A last season.
With the addition of Balotelli, Liverpool now have an even deadlier rotation in their attack. They have Raheem Sterling who regularly dazzles with his speed and explosiveness. He displayed those skills in scoring the first goal against Tottenham, his second of the campaign. Balotelli and Sterling will need to bring a fierce attack given that Daniel Sturridge is out with a thigh injury and is expected to miss three to four weeks of action.
Liverpool can still function as a cohesive unit even without Sturridge. Team captain and defensive midfielder Steven Gerrard gives a strong presence in the midfield, keeping the Reds’ game flowing with his accurate passing.
Gerrard is more than capable of leaving strong impression in this match, especially if Aston Villa again struggle to take control of the ball. The Reds’ captain’s prodigious passing will be an effective weapon against the slow-footed Villa defense, with the speedy Sterling likely to get on the end of those balls.
Betting on Aston Villa
Aston Villa sure have their hands full in their third match of the season. They’ll have their first crack at a championship contender, and will do so on the road. Aston Villa will need to be at the top of their games if they wish to walk away with any points away against Liverpool.
Villa have a deadly strike duo of Andres Weimann and Gabriel Agbonlahor, who each scored in their match against Hull City on August 31. While they were able to exploit the openings of lesser opponents, going against Liverpool’s midfield (led by Steven Gerrard) is a different story altogether.
The addition of on-loan Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley will definitely be a big help for Villa’s midfield against their more talented opponents. Cleverley’s passing ability in particular should also help Villa keep the ball better. They’ve only had 41% of possession over their first three matches. If they do again concede majority of possession, they could use Agbonlahor’s speed up front to launch some quick counterattacks.
Villa’s defense has conceded just one goal in their first three games, but those games were against less-than-stellar opposition. It’s doubtful that the central defensive partnership of Philipp Senderos and Ron Vlaar will have the speed to catch up to the likes of Sterling. Meanwhile, they’ll also need to be on guard against Balotelli, who’s always a handful. They’ll need to sharpen up or risk going behind early.
Writer’s Prediction
Liverpool (-550) takes an easy three points from an overmatched Aston Villa. Create a betting account now and get your bank account rolling through world class soccer action.
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