Slot confident of getting Liverpool fans onside, but not until next season

Arne Slot believes he can repair his fractured relationship with Liverpool fans if he is given the summer to improve the squad.

Liverpool face Aston Villa on Friday after their 1-1 draw with Chelsea last time out, a result that saw boos ring around Anfield following the full-time whistle.

The Reds had gone ahead early through Ryan Gravenberch, only for Enzo Fernandez's free-kick to level things up and see Liverpool drop more points after taking the lead.

In fact, Liverpool's nine points dropped from winning positions in the Premier League home games this season is their most in a single campaign since 2015-16 (14).

And while Slot's side remain in control of their own destiny regarding Champions League qualification, the supporters have made their feelings known towards him this term.

Victory over Villa will see them qualify for UEFA's flagship competition and aid their bid for signings in the summer.

Slot has said the team will undergo a "little transition" but not as "drastic" as the one 12 months ago, though he conceded that no matter the outcome of this season, fans have already made their minds up about him and his methods.

"Yes, I do. Not this season, by the way," Slot said when asked if he could get the fans back onside. "This season they will have their opinion, and it will not change.

"But if we can have the summer that we are planning to have, then I'm 100 per cent convinced that we will be a different team next season than we are now.

"Different in terms of results, different in how things look, but it's not always that simple because sometimes you know what you have to do, but it's not always possible to also get exactly what you want.

"For us, for me, it's really clear what we are lacking this season, and we're trying with the players we have now because one of the things we are lacking is players that are fit."

Liverpool come up against a Villa side with one eye on their Europa League final against Freiburg, with Unai Emery's side playing in Leipzig five days after Friday's clash. 

But the Villans are also aiming to return to the Champions League themselves, and they missed the opportunity to seal their spot last time out as they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Burnley.

Ross Barkley and Ollie Watkins had cancelled out Jaidon Anthony's early opener, only for Zian Flemming to seal a share of the spoils just before the hour.

Watkins' finish continued his good form. He has been involved in 12 goals in his last 13 appearances for Villa in all competitions (nine goals, three assists).

And though the England international recognised the Turf Moor stalemate as a chance missed by his team, he acknowledged both Burnley's strength at home and playing in a European semi-final just three days prior took its toll.

"It was a tough game, really tough game. As you've seen in recent weeks, I think they've become a lot stronger," Watkins noted.

"[Manchester] City came here and only won 1-0. It's always difficult to come here.

"I think in the end, a valuable point after going a goal behind, but it's disappointing really, the fact that obviously we got ourselves in front and let it slip away.

"We had an amazing result in Europe a few days ago, and the amount of energy and effort you put into them games, you're leaving it all out on the pitch.

"To go again and recover in 48 hours is tough. It's always difficult when you're playing against teams that maybe don't play in midweek and have a lot of energy."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Aston Villa – John McGinn

McGinn has been involved in five goals in his last six appearances for Villa in all competitions (two goals, three assists).

In addition, his nine goals overall this term is his joint-best return in a single campaign for the Villans (also nine in 2023-24), and you feel he will be key for Emery's men here.

Liverpool – Rio Ngumoha

Ngumoha's assist for Gravenberch's opener against Chelsea was the 55th goal either scored or assisted by a teenager in the Premier League this season, the most in a campaign since 2006-07 (58).

The talented teenager also finished with team-high totals for successful dribbles (four), duels won (six) and possession won (five), and he could be given another chance from the start here. 

MATCH PREDICTION: LIVERPOOL WIN

Liverpool won the reverse fixture at Anfield 2-0 in November. They last did the league double over Villa in 2021-22, while they last did so without conceding in 1995-96.

The Reds have also scored at least twice in 10 of their last 11 Premier League away games against Villa, including the last eight in a row. Only Manchester City (11 at Fulham) and Manchester United (nine at West Brom) have had longer runs of scoring 2+ goals away at an opponent in the competition.

But Liverpool have not won their final away league match in any of the last three seasons (D2 L1), with these games seeing 19 goals scored in total (4-4 v Southampton, 3-3 v Aston Villa, 2-3 v Brighton).

Villa, meanwhile, have not lost their final home league match in any of the six seasons since their return to the top flight in 2019 (W4 D2). 

From October to the end of January, though, Villa have won more games than any other Premier League side (13), with no team winning more points (40, level with Arsenal). 

The Villans have, however, won just one of their last 16 Premier League games against Liverpool (D3 L12), a 7-2 home win in October 2020.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Aston Villa – 33.4%

Draw – 24%

Liverpool – 42.6%