LONDON, ENGLAND - Sunday, September 22, 2019: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold prepares to take a throw-in during the FA Premier League match between Chelsea's FC and Liverpool FC at Stamford Bridge. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The duo chasing a century of games in Liverpool’s favourite Premier League fixture

Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Villa Park on Sunday; here are the best stats and numbers ahead of what is traditionally a good game for Reds fans.

A Good Opponent?

At Villa Park against Aston Villa, Liverpool have won 13 and lost six with five games ending in draws.

Liverpool have lost only four of the last 29 league meetings home and away.

The Reds have lost just one of the last 18 league visits to Villa Park, with the winning goal for the home team in May 2011 coming from Stewart Downing.

Liverpool have scored more league goals in their history (323) against Villa than they have against any other team.

The Reds have recorded more wins at Villa Park (13) than they have at any other away ground in the Premier League.

Liverpool have won their last five league visits to Villa Park – a record for the Reds.

They have kept clean sheets in their last three visits, something they had never previously achieved.

 

Former Heroes

Liverpool V Aston Villa : Robbie Fowler fires home Liverpools second goal and his first during their FA Carling Premiership match against Aston Villa at Anfield. 03-Mar-1996 ( David Kendall/PA Archive/PA Images)

Only two Liverpool players have scored a league hat-trick at Villa Park: Ian Rush in January 1984 and Robbie Fowler in November 1998.

The last Liverpool player to be sent off against Villa was Steven Gerrard in September 2001 at Anfield, a game his team lost.

 

Notable memories

BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Sunday, February 14, 2016: Liverpool's Divock Origi scores the fourth goal against Aston Villa during the Premier League match at Villa Park. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

On his last appearance on this ground, Divock Origi scored just 37 seconds after coming on as a 62nd-minute substitute.

James Milner has scored in each of his two Liverpool appearances against his former club. His first for Liverpool came against the Midlanders in 2015.

Adam Lallana made his Liverpool debut against Villa in a 0-1 home defeat in September 2014.

 

Sadio, Sadio

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - Sunday, March 20, 2016: Southampton's Sadio Mane in action against Liverpool during the FA Premier League match at St Mary's Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

The fastest ever Premier League hat-trick was scored against Aston Villa—by Sadio Mane in two minutes 56 seconds in May 2015. His Southampton team won 6-1.

Mane has scored four goals in four Premier League appearances against Villa – all with Southampton.

 

Rampant Reds

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Saturday, October 19, 2019: Liverpool's Adam Lallana (C) celebrates with team-mates after scoring the an equalising goal to level the score at 1-1 and help his side to continue their unbeaten start to the season during the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool are currently unbeaten in 13 away league games since the defeat across Manchester at the Etihad in January, with that being their only loss on the road in the last 24 in the top flight.

The Reds are unbeaten in the last 27 league games home and away (winning 22 and drawing five). It is their third-longest ever league sequence without defeat. They went 31 between May 1987 to March 1988, one more than the 30 from September 1893 to September 1894.

Liverpool go into this game having won nine league games this season. On the last occasion they went to Villa Park, during the 2015-16 campaign, they had also won nine games. That fixture took place on February 14.

 

Milestone Men

NAPLES, ITALY - Tuesday, September 17, 2019: Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold during the UEFA Champions League Group E match between SSC Napoli and Liverpool FC at the Studio San Paolo. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Trent Alexander-Arnold could make his 100th Liverpool appearance in all competitions. If he plays he will become the fourth-youngest Reds player to achieve the feat, at an age of 21 years 26 days.

Joe Gomez could play the 100th game of his senior club career.

 

Villa View

Aston Villa manager Dean Smith

Villa have scored only five goals at Villa Park in the last 17 meetings between the teams. They have come from Christian Benteke (2013), Downing (2011), Gareth Barry (2007), Nolberto Solano (2004) and Lee Hendrie (2001).

The Midlanders have not scored more than once at home against the Reds in the Premier League since they scored twice in a 2-4 defeat in November 1998.

Villa’s home defeat in the last Villa Park meeting with Liverpool was the first time since 1935 they had lost a home league game by six goals.

Villa have conceded a first-half goal in only two of their 10 league games this season.

Both of their league clean sheets this campaign have come at Villa Park, against Everton and West Ham.

Their defeat at Man City last Saturday was their first loss in four in the top flight, following two wins and a draw.

At home this season Dean Smith’s men have lost one of five in the league, to Bournemouth back in August. Since then they have beaten Everton and Brighton, either side of draws with West Ham and Burnley.

 

Scorers this season

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, October 27, 2019: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (R) celebrates scoring the second goal, from a penalty kick, with team-mate captain Jordan Henderson during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool: Mane 9, Salah 8, Firmino 3, Milner 3, Origi 3, Oxlade-Chamberlain 3, own goals 3, Matip 2, Alexander-Arnold 1, Henderson 1, Hoever 1, Lallana 1, Robertson 1, Van Dijk 1, Wijnaldum 1

Aston Villa: Hourihane 4, Wesley 4, Grealish 4, El Ghazi 3, McGinn 3, Douglas Luiz 2, Davis 1, Elmohamady 1, Guilbert 1, Jota 1, Konsa 1, Targett 1