Liverpool's shutout streak was clipped by Real Madrid , and now the Reds are set to face an Aston Villa team that hung seven goals on them earlier this season (start time 10:30am ET on NBCSN and online via NBCSports.com ).
Villa came back from an early deficit to beat Fulham 3-1 last week and are now five points back of the sixth-place Spurs and seventh-place Liverpool with a match-in-hand on both.
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With Liverpool across the field and Tottenham facing second-place Manchester United, a win could have them closing ground on both.
Villa is desperate to keep its European hopes in order but its run-in is brutal; Man City is next and there's a pair of matches with Everton on the docket. Manchester United, Tottenham, and Chelsea are also still to come this season.
Liverpool knows this is a chance to climb nearer to the top four, with the Spurs-United match joined by West Ham-Leicester.
WATCH LIVERPOOL – ASTON VILLA STREAM LIVE
Here is everything you need to know ahead of Liverpool – Aston Villa this Friday with team news, odds, stream link and more.
Team news: Liverpool – Aston Villa ( INJURY REPORT )
Liverpool
OUT: Virgil van Dijk (knee â out for season), Joel Matip (ankle â out for season), Joe Gomez (knee â out for season), Jordan Henderson (adductor), Divock Origi (undisclosed), Caoimhin Kelleher (abdomen)
Aston Villa
QUESTIONABLE: Wesley (knee), Jack Grealish (fitness).
Odds and ends ( full odds provided by our partner, PointsBet )
Liverpool (-200) | Aston Villa (+500) | Draw (+325)
Prediction
The Reds won't flub two-straight starts, not at this point in the season. But Jack Grealish is the X-factor, so Villa will like its chances if he's able to go — That's a big if . With Liverpool also hoping to make amends for that 7-2, we'll bet on Jurgen Klopp and Co. Liverpool 3-1 Villa.
How to watch Liverpool – Aston Villa start time, stream link
Kickoff: 10am ET Saturday
TV Channel: NBCN
Online: Stream via NBCSports.com
