Villa no pushover for Reds

Liverpool have made a flying start to the new season but their unbeaten run has to end one of these days and Aston Villa could be the team to sink them in tomorrow’s clash at Villa Park.

In a fortnight’s time, Liverpool host Manchester City in a top-of-the-table English Premier League clash that could go a long way to deciding the league title, so they can ill-afford any slip this weekend. Away against Aston Villa tomorrow, they will start as favourites and look likely to keep up their unbeaten start to the season that has seen them win nine of their last 10 games.

But it will be no walkover as Villa have gone four games without defeat at home, beating Everton and Brighton and drawing the other two.

Liverpool have a six-point lead over Pep Guardiola’s team, who are at home to Southampton again and likely to win at a canter.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have had a pair of tough wins in their last three league outings against Leicester and Tottenham, dropping their first points of the season when they were at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

They have had to grind out success, looking increasingly hindered by the burden of their unbeaten status and the spectre of Manchester City breathing down their neck.

It suggests that an unexpected defeat is in the pipeline, maybe sooner rather than later, and the pressure to come away with a result from Villa Park could yet prove debilitating.

In Spain, Barcelona are away at Levante tomorrow in yet another game that initially says “away win” but, with a little more examination, screams “danger”.

Levante have won two of their last three home games against the Spanish champions, even scoring five goals against them some 18 months ago.

Real Madrid had a satisfying 5- 0 home victory over Leganes on Wednesday and could do much the same tomorrow when they host Real Betis.

Third-place surprise package Granada could stay up with the big guns as they host Real Sociedad on Sunday.

In Serie A, Juventus remain unbeaten but have the derby against Torino tomorrow. It is always a difficult game although “The Old Lady” have thoroughly dominated it over the last years and should win again to stay ahead of Inter Milan.

It is shaping up to be a runaway season for Juventus - yet again. To take a bet, go to www.bettingworld.co.za or www.tabonline.co.za or www.soccer6.co.za