As Liverpool prepares to take on Aston Villa in a crucial Premier League match on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 7:30 PM GMT, manager Arne Slot has confirmed important team news and lineup decisions. The Reds are aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table, though injuries to key players pose challenges.
Injury Updates:
- Joe Gomez: The defender has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury, possibly requiring surgery. Manager Arne Slot confirmed Gomez is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, which could see him miss a large portion of the rest of the season.
- Cody Gakpo: The forward is recovering from an ankle injury sustained in a recent match. While his condition is improving, Gakpo will not be available for the upcoming fixture against Aston Villa.
Predicted Liverpool Starting XI:
With Gomez and Gakpo absent, the anticipated lineup for Liverpool is as follows:
- Goalkeeper: Caoimhin Kelleher
- Right Back: Trent Alexander-Arnold
- Center Back: Ibrahima Konaté
- Center Back: Virgil van Dijk (C)
- Left Back: Andrew Robertson
- Central Midfield: Ryan Gravenberch
- Central Midfield: Alexis Mac Allister
- Central Midfield: Curtis Jones
- Right Wing: Mohamed Salah
- Striker: Darwin Núñez
- Left Wing: Luis Díaz
This formation highlights Slot’s focus on solid defense while maximizing the attacking power of Salah, Núñez, and Díaz. The midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Jones is expected to provide both creativity and balance.
Aston Villa’s Team News:
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, also faces injury concerns:
- Marcus Rashford: The forward has been recovering well and could start against Liverpool, following two strong substitute appearances. Emery is hopeful for a repeat of Rashford’s past successful performances against Liverpool.
- Other Injuries: Defender Ezri Konsa (muscle), winger Leon Bailey (knock), and right-back Matty Cash (muscle) are doubtful. Midfielder Boubacar Kamara (muscle) and forward Ross Barkley (calf) are also out for the match.
Match Context:
Liverpool currently holds a seven-point lead over Arsenal in the Premier League and aims to extend their advantage with a win at Villa Park. Aston Villa, struggling with a winless streak in their last four Premier League matches, will look to capitalize on their home advantage to challenge the league leaders. This promises to be an exciting contest, with both sides eager to secure crucial points.
Broadcast Information:
The match will kick off at 7:30 PM GMT and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, with streaming available on Discovery+. Fans can also tune in for live commentary on talkSPORT, hosted by Sam Matterface and Troy Deeney.
With both teams facing crucial moments in the season, the anticipation builds as fans eagerly await the lineup decisions and injury updates that could influence the outcome of this pivotal Premier League clash.
