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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
Liverpool  Doni Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Enrique Henderson, Gerrard, Downing Kuyt, Carroll, Suarez | Aston Villa  Given Hutton, Lichaj, Collins, Warnock Gardner, Ireland, Bannan Albrighton, Heskey, Agbonlahor |
Former Roma man Alexander Doni is likely to get the nod over Brad Jones in goal for the Reds with Jose Reina serving the first game of his three game ban following his dismissal against Newcastle United last weekend.
This is unlikely to be the last of the changes with Jonjo Shelvey and Jay Spearing likely to drop to the bench in favour of Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing. Dirk Kuyt could also get a chance to impress in place of Craig Bellamy
Defenders Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger might make the bench with the possibility of starting their upcoming midweek Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers.
The visitors could make a couple of changes from the side that lost 4-2 at home to Chelsea. Marc Albrighton impressed coming off the bench and may well get a start. Emile Heskey could also get a start against his former club as Villa look for a more experience away from home.
Alan Hutton could recover from injury in time to start the match. Elsewhere a number of key players remain sidelined including Richard Dunne (fractured collarbone), Darren Bent (ankle ligaments) and Ciaran Clark (knee).
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Liverpool have only managed to win just two of their last 11 Premier League matches: 3-0 wins against both Wolves and Everton.
- The Reds' top league goalscorer is their Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, (pictured right), with seven goals.
- Liverpool have struggled to win their home matches in the league so far this season, managing just five wins from 15 matches.
- Kenny Dalglish’s side took all three points from the reverse fixture earlier in the season. A goal apiece from Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtel saw the Reds secure a 2-0 victory on December 18.
- Villa have only won once in their last nine visits to Anfield in the Premier League, a 3-1 win in the 2009/10 campaign.
- Alex McLeish’s side have scored just four times in the last six league matches, the lowest of all the sides in the Premier League.
- The Villans have won just one of their last eight Premier League games, leaving them just five points above the relegation zone.
- Aston Villa's last away win came back in January 21st when they beat Wolves 3-2 at Molineux.
A lot could depend on how Doni reacts in his league debut. The Reds have struggled to get wins at Anfield and Villa will be keen to get something from the game to avoid getting dragged into a relegation scrap. Liverpool lost their last home league game 2-1 to Wigan and could well end up dropping more points.
Editor's Prediction
Liverpool 1-1 Aston Villa 
