Monday Night Football: The Final Clash of the 2023/24 Premier League Season
Premier League Finale
Monday night football returns for the final time of this 2023/24 season, as the final week of the Premier League season descends. The international compiled European Championships are of course set to occupy football starved fans through the summer, however, the frenetic and addictive domestic season will be missed nonetheless. Liverpool and Aston Villa will both be satisfied with their overall seasons, though ambitious periods of not so long again were predictably dragged down in the final few weeks, as each historic English club succumbed to fatigue. This encounter is very close to a dead rubber, as each are destined to maintain their current positions in the final standings.
Team News and Recent Form
In terms of availability, the reds former transfer target, Boubacar Kamara, Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, and Jacob Ramsey, are all out, whereas Youri Tielemans and Nicolo Zaniolo are both fighting to be fit enough to make the match day squad. Regarding recent form, the midlands side crashed out of the Europa Conference League at the semifinal stage, after a humbling 6-2 aggregate loss to Greek side, Olympiacos. A 1-0 away loss to Brighton was sandwiched in between those two legs, after a home 2-2 draw with Chelsea, which followed a routine 3-1 win against visiting Bournemouth. After 36-games played, Unai Emery’s superb side has amassed a 67-point total and reside in a super 4th place, with the Spanish manager surely having a strong case of manager of the year.
Aston Villa Predicted Line-Up
A predicted line up for the home team is listed below, in a 3-4-3 formation.
GK – Emiliano Martínez
RWB – Matty Cash
RCB – Ezri Konsa
CB – Clément Lenglet
LCB – Pau Torres
LWB – Lucas Digne
CM – Douglas Luiz
CM – John McGinn
RW – Leon Bailey
CF – Ollie Watkins
LW – Jhon Durán
Liverpool’s Squad Health and Predictions
In terms of injures, Thiago Alcântara is the injured departee that will never play for Liverpool again, whereas Joël Matip has sustained a season ending ACL injury, one which will also see him leave at the end of this season. Diogo Joga is a late fitness option, who may not be risked at this inconsequential stage.
Regarding recent form, a superb 4-2 home win against visiting Tottenham came after a 2-2 draw away to West Ham, which followed that 2-0 loss against Everton. Those dropped points arrived after a strong 1-3 win at Fulham, one which had followed a 0-1 win at Atalanta. After 36-games played, Liverpool have amassed a 78-point total and sit 3rd in the table, with their final league position now guaranteed.
Liverpool’s Predicted Line-Up at Villa Park
Below is the team I believe the reds German manager will start at Villa Park, which should remain unchanged from that which took Spurs apart.
GK – Alisson Becker
RB – Trent Alexander Arnold
RCB – Jarell Quansah
LCB – Virgil van Dijk (c)
LB – Andy Robertson
RCM – Harvey Elliott
CDM – Waturu Endō
LCM – Alexis Mac Allister
RF – Mohamed Salah
CF – Cody Gakpo
LF – Luis Díaz
Match Insights and Expectations
I cannot see how the host will not have endured a European hangover, after they travelled back from Greece on Friday following their tournament elimination. Liverpool is a squad about to inherit a new head coach, Arne Slot, therefore, the need to impress and play their way into the kind of the Dutchman is now fully underway.
Player to Watch – Harvey Elliott
Score Prediction
Aston Villa 1 – 2 Liverpool
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Steven Smith
