Liverpool team news v Aston Villa: Gravenberch returns as Arne Slot makes big call in defence

Liverpool failed to win a Premier League match – or even pick up a single top-flight point – in the month of October. Will they put both of those right on the first day of November?

In contrast to how the Reds have tumbled down the table over the past five weeks, tonight’s opponents Aston Villa have converged on them after recovering from their horrific start to the season, with the two teams now sitting level on 15 points each.

Arne Slot was handed a much-needed boost in recent days with the return of Ryan Gravenberch to training, although the LFC head coach effectively ruled out Alexander Isak and Curtis Jones from featuring against Unai Emery’s side.

The team news has now been confirmed for this fixture – has the Dutch midfielder recovered sufficiently to start?

Liverpool starting XI to face Aston Villa

Having rested the majority of Liverpool’s first-team regulars in midweek and fielded a much-changed line-up in the Carabao Cup, Slot recalls the big guns for the Reds’ return to Premier League action.

Giorgi Mamardashvili returns in goal, with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in front of him. Conor Bradley is at right-back, while Andy Robertson makes his first Premier League start of the season on the other flank.

Gravenberch is fit enough to come into the line-up alongside Alexis Mac Allister in midfield, with Dominik Szoboszlai completing the trio which excelled throughout the 2024/25 title-winning campaign.

Hugo Ekitike starts at centre-forward, with Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo either side of him, and Florian Wirtz has to be content with a place on the bench once more.

Also among the substitutes is teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni and two goalkeepers in Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi.

You can view the Liverpool starting XI and substitutes below, via @LFC on X:

Team news is IN #LIVAVL

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) November 1, 2025

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