Here is how Liverpool and Aston Villa will line-up for this afternoon’s match at Anfield:
Liverpool starting XI: Mignolet, Johnson, Cissokho, Toure, Skrtel, Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling, Coutinho Suarez, Sturridge
Subs: Jones, Kelly, Lucas, Moses, Allen, Aspas, Alberto
Aston Villa starting XI: Guzan, Bacuna, Vlaar, Clark, Bertrand, El Ahmadi, Westwood, Delph, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke
Subs: Steer, Sylla, Helenius, Albrighton, Luna, Gardner, Holt
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers will have no doubt felt a mixture of elation and annoyance watching his side’s 5-3 victory over Stoke City last weekend.
While his strikers keep on scoring, there was a little less coherence at the other end of the pitch, and he will be hoping the return from injury of Mamadou Sakho prevents a repeat against Aston Villa.
Today’s visitors have both Grant Holt and Ryan Bertrand available and Paul Lambert will be hoping his January additions prove to be the sprinkling of inspiration his side needs to climb just that little further away from a worryingly-tight bottom half of the table.
And they may have a chance given their recent record at Anfield. After all, the Villans have lost on just one of their last four visits. They are also a far tougher proposition on the road, having picked up 15 points away contrasted to just eight at Villa Park.
What do you think the result will be this afternoon?
image: © Vincent Teeuwen
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