Pundit Alan Shearer has revealed his predictions for Liverpool vs. Aston Villa, saying Arne Slott’s side “cannot afford another defeat.”
Liverpool have been in crisis in recent months, losing six of their last seven games in all competitions.
Head coach Slott had a near-perfect debut season at Anfield, helping Liverpool win their 20th Premier League title, but he is now under intense scrutiny.
Slott is one of the candidates to be sacked as the next Premier League manager after Liverpool fell from first to seventh in the Premier League table.
So while Liverpool are crying out for victory, they will face a tough test on Saturday night when they host Unai Emery’s in-form Aston Villa at Anfield.
Shearer supports Aston Villa to beat Liverpool, but explained why he would “not be surprised” if the hosts won.
“One team is in terrible form, losing six of their last seven, and one team is in very good form, winning six of their last seven. There are arguments on both sides. It’s a really big game, especially with the way Liverpool lost in midweek,” Shearer said in an interview with Metro (via Betfair).
Read: Liverpool vs Aston Villa: Champions must stop rot – but probably can’t keep out visitors at Anfield
“Liverpool can’t afford another defeat and if that happens it would really be a wake-up call. I don’t know what to expect from Liverpool. There’s a part of me that thinks they can’t keep going like this because they have that much quality.
“But I don’t like what I’m seeing at Liverpool right now. They’re not competing, they’re all over the place. I think Villa might take advantage of the pressure that Liverpool are under.”
“When you gamble in the middle of the week, the last thing you want is to get beaten down and that will permeate through the football club and there will be an expectation that they will bounce back.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they do it, but given the way they play football, how they work sometimes and the way they’re doing, I’d choose Villa.”
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Liverpool are already seven points clear of leaders Arsenal and Shearer is backing the Gunners to secure their 11th win in their last 12 games when they face Burnley this weekend.
“A lot of people outside of Burnley fans won’t expect anything from this result, but because of Arsenal’s form, the rigor of their defense and the squad they have, I don’t think they’ll care one bit,” Shearer added.
“Whether they won from set-pieces, won from deflected shots, whatever it was, they played a whole new back four in the Carabao Cup and still got a clean sheet.
“They have been active in the Champions League, they have been active in the league, the club is full of confidence and this year they look real.”
