PREVIEW: Liverpool face Aston Villa with title hopes on line

The Reds have been in excellent form, and Slot will be keen to maintain their momentum in what promises to be a challenging fixture. Aston Villa, on the other hand, are not in their best form, having secured just two wins in their last five matches across all competitions, with two draws and one defeat.
Despite sitting in ninth place in the Premier League, Unai Emery's side still harbours aspirations of a Champions League spot and will be eager to claim all three points on home soil.
Slot is mindful of Villa's potential to cause problems, but he believes that Liverpool's hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wolves last weekend has prepared them well for the task ahead.
Villa will no doubt be looking to build on their recent performances, but the Reds will aim to turn the pressure in their favour with a vital win.
The game will feature some intriguing individual battles, with Marcus Rashford and Mohamed Salah key players to watch.
Rashford, who made the move from Manchester United to Villa, is working to rediscover his best form under Unai Emery's guidance. However, Slot hopes Rashford's resurgence will come after Wednesday's match, giving Liverpool a crucial advantage.
Meanwhile, Salah continues to show his incredible consistency for Liverpool. The Egyptian forward has netted 28 goals and provided 19 assists in 36 competitive matches this season, including a penalty in Liverpool’s 2-1 win over Wolves, which brought his Premier League tally to 23 goals.
The Egyptian's form will be vital as Liverpool look to extend their lead at the top of the table.


Aston Villa possible lineup: Martinez (GK); Garcia, Mings, Disasi, Digne; Tielemans, McGinn; Ramsey, Rogers, Rashford; Watkins.
Liverpool possible lineup: Alisson (GK); Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Tsimikas; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez.
Referee: Stuart Attwell
Game: Aston Villa vs Liverpool
Location: Villa Park, Birmingham
Time: 20.30 CET