Arne Slot REELING as five players missing for Aston Villa showdown

Liverpool need to get back to winning ways and fast.

The Reds are reeling from a sequence of SIX defeats in only seven matches. The latest loss occurred on Wednesday night as Crystal Palace easily overcame a listless home side at Anfield.

The FA Cup holders won 3-0 in the EFL Cup against an understrength Liverpool - extending Arne Slot’s miserable run.

Liverpool were tipped as runaway Premier League title favourites owing to the quality of their summer transfer business - spending £450m on improving a title-winning squad.

But it’s not worked out that way as Slot struggles to find the right formula to accommodate all the new faces.

Liverpool injury trouble is stacking up

The Merseysiders have lost to Palace, Chelsea, Manchester United and Brentford in the Premier League in recent matches - and the weekend vist of Aston Villa will require a victory to stop the rot.

But Slot will have to plan for the encounter without several first-team players. The Palace defeat was notable for the number of inexperienced players involved - as the Dutchman seeks to keep the bulk of his squad fit for the challenges ahead.

He will be hoping to use as many of his first-choice players as possible but it’s been mixed news on the injury front of late.

Liverpool not at full strength for Aston Villa

The good news is Ryan Gravenberch is back in training after an ankle injury suffered against Manchester United and the Reds have been sorely lacking his quality.

Elsewhere however and Slot confirmed on Friday that Curtis Jones and Alexander Isak are ‘99.9 percent’ likely to miss the game on Saturday.

Of course Alisson Becker is still out - and not expected to play until after the November international window. That means he will miss the matches against both Real Madrid and Manchester City.

And Jeremie Frimpong will be out for around SIX WEEKS following his latest hamstring blow. The right-back joins fellow new arrival Giovanni Leoni on the sidelines - with the Italian teenager suffering the effects of an ACL tear.

Therefore Liverpool won’t be at their strongest on Saturday; Alisson, Frimpong, Jones and Isak would ALL be expected to start in ordinary circumstances but right now Slot needs to patch up a team from his remaining players the best way he can.

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