Liverpool arrive at Villa Park on Friday with up to eight players doubtful, including Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker, for a match that could define both clubs’ Champions League futures.
- Salah sustained a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace: his Villa Park appearance is uncertain
- Alisson has missed nine consecutive games with a muscular problem. Slot describes both as “very, very close”
- Florian Wirtz is a doubt after a stomach infection kept him out of the Chelsea draw
- Villa have lost just once on a Friday since the 2022-23 season, a remarkable record heading into the fixture
Salah and Alisson situation – Race against time
The two biggest questions hanging over Arne Slot’s squad concern Liverpool’s two most important players. Mohamed Salah suffered a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace, prompting initial fears that his Liverpool career might have ended prematurely.
The club subsequently released a statement confirming the Egyptian would return before the end of the season. Slot described the issue as “minor” but the Friday kick-off means recovery time is critically short.
Alisson Becker has been absent for nine consecutive Premier League games with an undisclosed muscular problem. The Brazilian goalkeeper, whose Liverpool future is the subject of significant summer speculation, has still not returned to full training despite Slot suggesting he was close to involvement in each of the last two fixtures.
Giorgio Mamardashvili’s return over the weekend has reduced the urgency around Alisson’s comeback, but Slot confirmed both he and Salah are “very, very close” to fitness ahead of Friday.
Wirtz, Konaté and Endo. More concerns for Slot
The injury picture extends well beyond the two headline doubts. Florian Wirtz, one of Liverpool’s most dangerous attacking threats, missed the Chelsea draw with a stomach infection that worsened across the course of last week. No update has been issued on the German international’s availability, but there is genuine hope he will be fit enough to travel to Birmingham.
Ibrahima Konaté limped off in the second half against Chelsea, though Slot attributed the withdrawal to cramp rather than structural damage.
The French centre-back will undergo tests during the week, with early indications suggesting his exit was largely precautionary. Wataru Endo faces a longer absence, the Japanese defensive midfielder is out for at least another week with a serious ankle injury and could miss the remainder of the season entirely.
Three further players are definitely absent. Hugo Ekitiké faces an October return following Achilles surgery. Conor Bradley’s knee injury keeps him out until winter. Young defender Giovanni Leoni is targeting a return to full training over the summer after an ACL problem.
The Martinez subplot. Liverpool’s goalkeeper contingency
An intriguing subplot surrounds this fixture. TEAMtalk report that Liverpool are assessing Emiliano Martinez as part of their contingency planning should Alisson depart in the summer, with Juventus pushing to sign the Brazilian, whose contract enters its final year.
The prospect of Martinez lining up against a club potentially monitoring him as a future signing adds a fascinating personal dimension to Friday’s encounter. Martinez is, of course, expected to produce his finest performance of the season as he has done consistently in the biggest moments throughout this campaign.
Villa’s Friday record. The stats are on Emery’s side
Amid all the injury news, one statistic stands out for Villa supporters. Since the 2022-23 season, Emery’s side have played eight competitive Friday fixtures, losing just once.
That sole defeat came against Wolves in February. Villa won both FA Cup ties and their Premier League Friday fixture last season. They won both Friday games in 2022-23.
The record provides genuine and specific reassurance heading into the biggest home league game of the season.
Liverpool have also won their last three Friday fixtures, so there is no easy statistical advantage for either side. The form, the stakes, and the occasion will determine the outcome.
ReadAstonVilla Verdict
Liverpool’s injury situation is genuinely significant, but Slot’s team have enough quality even in a depleted state to make this an incredibly difficult evening. Salah, even at 85% fitness, changes a game.
However, Villa Park on a Friday night, with Champions League qualification and Istanbul momentum behind Emery’s squad, is the perfect stage for this group to deliver. Win this and the season’s legacy is assured regardless of the final score in Turkey.
