MatchThe opposition lowdown: Aston Villa

Recent form

Villa enter this weekend's round of fixtures sitting sixth in the Premier League standings.

The visitors have won five, drawn three and lost two from their 10 top-flight games so far this season.

Emery's charges have also impressed in Europe, winning three out of their opening four Champions League matches, including a home victory over Bayern Munich.

They did, however, fall to a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge in midweek, which followed a 4-1 loss at Tottenham Hotspur in the league.

Ones to watch

Jhon Duran is Villa's top goalscorer across all competitions this term, having netted on eight occasions in 16 outings so far.

Ollie Watkins has struck five times (all in the league), while midfielders Amadou Onana and Morgan Rogers have three apiece.

Youri Tielemans has been a key playmaker, recording four assists, while Leon Bailey, Watkins and Rogers have three to their name.

Team news

The visitors will be without Ross Barkley for the 8pm GMT kick-off and Matty Cash is a doubt having not been involved versus Brugge.

Tielemans is expected to be at Emery's disposal before undergoing rehabilitation on a minor issue during the subsequent international break.

What they said

Villa head coach Emery

"[Liverpool] are playing with the same players, they are playing very well and their idea is clear. This is the same power they had before with their structure tactically. Offensively they're a really strong team. Collectively they are in their way and individually as well.

"[This game] is a really huge challenge for us to stop them, to play with personality. We are analysing and building the team but of course we have to compete if we want to get the level we had last year.

"We are more or less keeping it but we have to be stronger in some circumstances, in everything: tactically, mentally, emotionally. We are building the team with different players and building our structure. We are in this process."

Previous meetings

In this fixture last season, the Reds secured a 3-0 win at Anfield, with efforts from Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai either side of a Cash own goal clinching the points.

In the return encounter at Villa Park in May, the two teams played out a 3-3 draw. Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah were on the scoresheet for Liverpool following an Emiliano Martinez own goal.

Pre-match stats

This will be the 100th meeting between the clubs at Anfield in all competitions. Liverpool have won 62 of the previous 99.

The Reds have won more league games (94) and amassed more league points versus Villa (324), converting to three points for a win, than they have against any other club.

The last 14 games between the sides in all competitions have produced 57 goals, an average of more than four per game.

No team has scored more Premier League goals this season from either crosses (six) or set-piece situations (five, excluding penalties) than Villa.