As Liverpool prepares to face Aston Villa in a crucial Premier League clash on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 7:30 PM GMT, manager Arne Slot has confirmed significant team news and lineup decisions. The Reds aim to extend their lead at the top of the table, but they face challenges due to recent injuries affecting key players.
Injury Updates:
• Joe Gomez: The defender has suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury, which may require surgery. Manager Arne Slot indicated that Gomez is expected to be sidelined for several weeks, potentially missing a significant portion of the remaining season.
• Cody Gakpo: The forward is recovering from an ankle knock sustained during a recent match. While his condition is improving, Gakpo remains unavailable for the upcoming fixture against Aston Villa.
Predicted Liverpool Starting XI:
With the absences of Gomez and Gakpo, the anticipated lineup for Liverpool is as follows:
Position Player
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 reflects Slot’s commitment to maintaining a strong defensive line while capitalizing on the attacking prowess of Salah, Núñez, and Díaz. The midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Jones is expected to provide both creativity and stability.
Aston Villa’s Team News:
Aston Villa, managed by Unai Emery, has its own set of injury concerns:
• Marcus Rashford: The forward has shown improvement and could start against Liverpool, following two promising substitute appearances. Emery highlighted Rashford’s effective past performances against Liverpool and hopes for a similar impact at Villa Park.
• Other Injuries: Defender Ezri Konsa (muscle), winger Leon Bailey (knock), and right-back Matty Cash (muscle) are doubts for the match. Midfielder Boubacar Kamara (muscle) and forward Ross Barkley (calf) are also sidelined.
Match Context:
Liverpool currently leads the Premier League by seven points over Arsenal and aims to solidify their position with a victory at Villa Park. Aston Villa, seeking their first Premier League win in five games, will look to leverage home advantage to challenge the league leaders. The match promises to be a compelling encounter, with both teams eager to secure crucial points.
Broadcast Information:
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM GMT and will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, with streaming available on Discovery+. Fans can also listen to live commentary on talkSPORT, featuring Sam Matterface and Troy Deeney. 
As the anticipation builds, supporters from both sides will be keenly watching how these lineup decisions and injury updates influence the outcome of this pivotal Premier League fixture