Liverpool Battles Injury Woes Ahead of Crucial Showdown with Aston Villa
As Liverpool prepares for a significant Premier League encounter against Aston Villa on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 7:30 PM GMT, manager Arne Slot has delivered crucial updates regarding squad availability and injury concerns.
The Reds, aiming to extend their lead at the summit of the table, will have to contend with key absences due to injuries. Despite these setbacks, Slot remains focused on fielding a competitive lineup to secure all three points.
### Injury Updates for Liverpool
Liverpool faces a couple of notable injury issues ahead of this fixture. Defender Joe Gomez has suffered a relapse of his hamstring injury, which could require surgery. Slot has confirmed that Gomez is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, which could see him miss a substantial part of the campaign. His absence will be a significant blow to Liverpool’s defensive depth.
Meanwhile, forward Cody Gakpo is still recovering from an ankle injury sustained in a recent match. Although his condition has improved, he has not yet regained full match fitness and will be unavailable for selection against Aston Villa.
### Expected Liverpool Starting XI
With both Gomez and Gakpo ruled out, Slot is likely to adjust his squad accordingly. The projected starting lineup is as follows:
– **Goalkeeper**: Caoimhin Kelleher
– **Defenders**: Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB), Ibrahima Konaté (CB), Virgil van Dijk (C) (CB), Andrew Robertson (LB)
– **Midfielders**: Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Curtis Jones
– **Forwards**: Mohamed Salah, Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz
This selection indicates Slot’s desire to maintain a stable defensive structure while relying on the attacking strength of Salah, Núñez, and Díaz. The midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Jones will be expected to control possession and facilitate attacking movements.
### Aston Villa’s Injury Concerns
Unai Emery’s squad is also grappling with injury setbacks. Marcus Rashford, who has been recovering from a recent issue, has made an impact as a substitute in the past two games. If deemed fit to start, his previous success against Liverpool could make him a key player for Villa in this fixture.
Additionally, Villa’s defensive options remain limited, with Ezri Konsa (muscle) and Matty Cash (muscle) doubtful for the match. Winger Leon Bailey is also uncertain due to a knock, while midfielders Boubacar Kamara (muscle) and Ross Barkley (calf) remain sidelined.
### Match Preview & Broadcast Information
Liverpool, sitting seven points clear of second-placed Arsenal, will be eager to widen the gap even further. Aston Villa, on the other hand, has been struggling for form, having failed to secure a victory in their last four league matches. With home advantage, Emery’s side will look to capitalize on any weaknesses in Liverpool’s squad.
The match kicks off at 7:30 PM GMT and will be available for live viewing on TNT Sports 2, with streaming options accessible via Discovery+. Fans can also tune in for live commentary on talkSPORT, where Sam Matterface and Troy Deeney will provide in-depth analysis.
With both teams in need of a vital result, this encounter is set to be a fiercely contested battle with high stakes.
