Paul Merson and Alan Shearer disagree on Liverpool vs Aston Villa prediction

Paul Merson and Alan Shearer are , with the former expecting the Reds to drop points.

side will have the chance to confirm top spot in the Premier League heading into the final international break of 2024. Liverpool currently sits two points ahead of heading into the weekend, having lost just one game so far.

With side facing a tricky trip to Brighton before kick-off at Anfield, there could even be a chance for the Reds to extend their lead. Coming off the back of in the , and with Villa having lost their last three games in all competitions, there’s every reason for Liverpool to feel confident against Unai Emery’s side.

Former Villa and Arsenal midfielder though believes his old side will claim a point on their travels. Predicting a 2-2 draw, he told : “Aston Villa are on a bit of a sticky patch now after three straight defeats in all competitions.

“This is a big game for both clubs. I saw Brighton against Liverpool and they were actually better than Arne Slot’s men for the majority of that game. Brighton simply failed to pick the right pass, they were excellent otherwise. Ultimately, Liverpool got the three points which they always do.

“I just don’t think Liverpool are playing well enough to get a win in this game. If they give Villa the kind of chances they gave Brighton, the likes of Jhon Duran and Ollie Watkins will punish them. Liverpool were really fortunate to come away with a win in the last game, but I doubt they’ll have that kind of luck here.

“Villa may have conceded four goals against Tottenham, but that can happen when you play a team like Spurs. If Tottenham are in the mood, they can move the ball quickly and score goals in quick succession. So I’m not reading too much into that scoreline and I really think Villa can cause Liverpool problems in this game.”

though is much more confident about the Reds’ chances of claiming all three points, and expects Slot’s side to get the better of Villa. Making his predictions for , the Match of the Day pundit said: “Both sides were of course in Champions League action earlier in the week, but Liverpool have an extra day’s rest and were at home.

“It's tough for any team to play in the Champions League and then perform at the weekend with the same energy, and Villa come here after an away defeat in Brugge.

“Liverpool are back at home here, and I think they'll have enough to beat Aston Villa to remain top of the table going into the international break.”