On Boxing Day, Aston Villa return to the Premier League at home against Liverpool

The Reds have already resumed competitive play after the World Cup break, as their EFL Cup defence came to an end in the fourth round with a 3-2 loss to Manchester City, Aston Villa's loss to Manchester United in the EFL Cup is a little blemish on the Spaniard's record, but two straight victories in the Premier League have propelled them to 12th place in the standings, 

Five points above the bottom three and just one below a potential top-half spot, Villa played a total of four friendlies during the World Cup, but they only managed one victory during that span as Emery was still getting used to his new group of players, Following losses to Cardiff City and Emery's former club Villarreal, the Lions played to a 2-2 draw with Brighton. 

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Emery is now hoping to become the first manager of Aston Villa to win each of his first three league games in charge, although the Lions have won three of their past four Premier League games at home, only two of the hosts' last nine games at Villa Park have ended in defeat, however, Liverpool have immediately recovered the desire for goals since their return to competitive football.

When the EFL Cup champions were eliminated from the 2022–23 tournament in the fourth round, Jurgen Klopp adopted a different tone and lamented the lack of technology. Managers almost rarely complain about VAR on weekends in the Premier League, both Fabio Carvalho and Mohamed Salah caused the nett to tremble for Liverpool,

<strong>Following their turbulent start to the season</strong>

But before Klopp questioned the lack of VAR, early momentum-shifting opportunities where the offside flag was not raised were rendered insignificant by Erling Braut Haaland, Riyad Mahrez, and Nathan Ake, following their turbulent start to the season, the Reds, who lost to Lyon before crushing AC Milan in the Dubai Super Cup, will spend Christmas Day in sixth place, seven points behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur with a game remaining. Their victory over the Lilywhites on November 6 is also their only away Premier League victory in their last six attempts.