The 2023/24 Premier League season has started and you can follow every match and goal right here on The Independent.
This year, Manchester City will look to defend the crown and claim a historic fourth title in a row. Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering City, who also won the Champions League and FA Cup last season, will have to take on Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and the rest to claim an unprecedented sixth league title in seven years.
Meanwhile, Luton Town make their first appearance in the Premier League, having risen from non-league after an incredible decade of progress. They followed championship winners Burnley and Sheffield United into second place in earning promotion to the top flight.
Follow the latest action from the Premier League below.
Aston Villa FC 1 – 2 Liverpool FC
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:44
Oooft, not the worst attempt. Alexander-Arnold collects the ball from Diaz about 25 yards from goal and his dipping attempt goes just wide of the right post.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:42
Much of Villa’s joy came through the right channel. They clearly want to exploit Gomez, who is not a natural left back.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:39
Yellow card Harvey Daniel James Elliott
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:38
GOOOOO-NO!!! OH MY DAYS HOW IS THAT NOT A GOAL?! It’s brilliant from Bailey down the right and the winger reaches the byline and almost plays it over the goal line. Carlos tries to slide in but can’t make good contact, and his touch almost takes it away from Watkins! A golden opportunity for Villa, who are still 2-1 behind.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:37
Since Liverpool took the lead again, Villa has done well to regain composure. The only question is whether they can create opportunities to hurt the visitors.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:34
Tielemans tries to launch one of the top players for Watkins, but it is a workmanlike piece of defense from Van Dijk. Shortly afterwards, Quansah does well to block McGinn.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:32
Villa just look a bit sloppy at the back as Carlos is almost caught in possession. It does make you wonder if that trip to Greece took its toll both physically and mentally. They’re certainly not out of this game, but you don’t want to keep giving Liverpool leads, that’s for sure.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:29
Liverpool have only lost their last away league match in one of their previous eight seasons under Klopp (W5, D2), when they lost 1-0 at Chelsea in 2017/2018.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:28
This game was absolutely brilliant. Liverpool came flying out of the blocks. Villa established itself and took the ascendancy. Now the visitors had the initiative back! I wouldn’t try to catch my breath with this.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:24
Goal Cody Mathès Gakpo
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:24
The old cliché goes that goals change the game. Villa’s goal has certainly changed this. Suddenly it’s Liverpool who look uncomfortable and grumpy at the back. It’s been an exciting first half so far.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:22
Another counter is launched by Villa as Bailey races down the right. He sneaks into Watkins, who… well, it’s not entirely clear what he was trying to do… maybe a drink? Anyway, it was blocked and the move came to nothing.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:20
A little more pressure results in a Villa corner. Luiz takes it low, but Liverpool makes the clearance quite easily.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:17
A point here for Villa would certainly not be the worst result, as Tottenham have to play Manchester City on Tuesday. But they will want to leave Spurs out of the equation altogether tonight. They now have a platform and the leveler has taken the sting out of the electrical opening of the match.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:17
Understandably, the equalizer changed the mood at Villa Park somewhat. Will this change the playing balance?
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:13
Assist Oliver George Arthur Watkins
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:13
OUT OF THE MAIL! Oh, the offside flag has been raised anyway… but man, what are Villa playing at? Digne is all over the place here as Salah easily beats him again and throws a delicate chip to Diaz, who slots the ball towards goal and Gakpo runs in to hit the post, but the linesman raises his flag anyway.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:11
That looks more like Villa, with the hosts finally showing some intent. Diaby does well to dance down the right channel and he plays a low mid to Bailey, who gets it a little wrong as Alexander-Arnold comes over to cover. A little more encouraging from Emery’s men.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:10
The Liverpool fans are in an absolutely raucous mood here. The home fans, on the other hand, have calmed down a bit after the pre-match buzz.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:09
It’s still very early days here, but Liverpool are playing with a team that is free from the burden of challenging for the title. They have fun against a shell-shocked Villa. Mac Allister lifts one into the area looking for Elliot, but this time Tielemans just slides him back into Martinez’s path.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:06
Dear oh dear, this has not been a good start for Villa. Salah has time and space on the right this time, sliding easily inside Digne and deflecting a shot that takes a deflection from Torres and goes just wide of the right post. Villa needs to wake up here and be quick.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:04
OH NO! What an absolutely terrible start for Villa! Elliot drives forward, plays a neat one-two with Salah and then crosses towards goal where the ball deflects from Konsa. Martinez is slightly off balance, but he clumsily parries the ball into the back of his own goal! Not what we are used to from the World Cup winner. Liverpool leads 1-0!
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
20:01
Simon Hooper blows his whistle and we’re on our way!
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
Villa make only one change from the aforementioned loss to Olympiacos, with Matty Cash, who is not in the matchday squad at all, out for Youri Tielemans. The visitors, meanwhile, also make one change from their last outing – last Sunday’s 4-2 win over Tottenham – which did not involve Andy Robertson. Joe Gomez takes his place at left back.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Calum Chambers, Clement Lenglet, Nicolo Zaniolo, Jhon Durán, Robin Olsen, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Tim Iroegbunam, Finley Munroe, Omari Kellyman.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Ibrahima Konate, Dominik Szoboszlai, Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Kostas Tsimikas, Ryan Gravenberch, Stefan Bajcetic, Caoimhin Kelleher, Conor Bradley.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson Becker; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, Jarell Quansah, Joe Gomez; Alexis MacAllister, Wataru Endo, Harvey Elliott; Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martínez;, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Diego Carlos, Lucas Digne; Douglas Luiz, Youri Tielemans; Moussa Diaby, John McGinn, Leon Bailey; Ollie Watkins.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
For Liverpool, they know it will be a third-place finish, but this is Jurgen Klopp’s penultimate game in charge before heading off into the sunset at Anfield. It wasn’t quite the farewell the Reds were hoping to offer to their popular boss, but they will still want to finish strongly in the final two games and Villa know this will be a tough match tonight.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
It’s a big night for Villa, who head into this evening having lost their Europa Conference League semi-final 2-0 to Olympiakos for a 6-2 aggregate defeat. But a win here over Liverpool would guarantee Champions League football next season. Anything less than that and Tottenham are still in contention.
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:30 PM
Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of this Premier League match between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park!
Aston Villa vs Liverpool
7:00 PM
Follow all the goals and the latest action from the Premier League with The Independent here. Team news and line-ups to follow soon…