Liverpool v Aston Villa Tip

Two improving teams do battle at Anfield on Saturday where Liverpool are the red-hot favourites (2/5 VictorChandler) to overcome Aston Villa (17/2 Boylesports). I think the hosts will just shade it, but the win odds are totally prohibitive. Instead, a 1-0 victory for the Merseysiders at best odds of 7/1 (BetVictor) is appealing.

Liverpool have won by that scoreline in two of their last four home games in the top flight, against Southampton and Reading - this feels similar. Brendan Rodgers’ boys have lost just one of their last 11 PL encounters and last week they showed character to win from behind at Upton Park, and without Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan returns from suspension on Saturday and that will only help the Reds keep their decent run going. But the reason why this should be so hard-fought is that Paul Lambert has gradually added steel to his new recruits. The Villains are unbeaten in five across all competitions and have only conceded twice in that sequence.

However, their ability to score goals away from home against top-half opposition has to remain questionable. They have mustered just four goals in eight fixtures on their travels this season and Anfield isn’t the best place to improve such a statistic.