How Aston Villa and Liverpool will line up this weekend.
Goal shy Aston Villa will welcome Liverpool to Villa Park looking to give their flailing season a boost by pulling away from the relegation zone. Confidence is low, but Liverpool will be without two key men as Steven Gerrard nurses the injury that forced him off against Sunderland, while the game has come too early for returning striker Daniel Sturridge. Below is how both teams could line up.
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GK: Simon Mignolet
The Belgian has been finding some form recently, though Reds fans will be hopeful that he won’t commit a serious blunder.
CB: Mamadou Sakho
Sakho will be the only player the Reds have to combat the brute force of Christian Benteke.
CB: Martin Skrtel
Will need to help out his colleague against the big Belgian.
CB: Emre Can
Pushed back into a slightly less familiar centre-back roll as Dejan Lovren sits out.
LWB: Alberto Moreno
The Spaniard will be the only wide player on the left for the Reds, and will be charged with putting a stop to the Hutton express.
RWB: Javier Manquillo
Another Spaniard on the flanks, but can he cope with the power of Aly Cissokho?
CM: Jordan Henderson
A real test of his credentials as Steven Gerrard’s replacement.
CM: Lucas Leiva
Despite being linked with a move away from the club this week, he will be the destroyed next to Henderson.
AM: Lazar Markovic
The better adapted of Rodgers’ summer signings, he will be expected to bulk up the attack help break down a stubborn Villa defence.
AM: Philippe Coutinho
The Brazilian will look to get the better of the less mobile Nathan Baker.
ST: Raheem Sterling
Now refreshed after his Caribbean getaway, the England international will be pushed up front in the absence of Sturridge.
GK: Brad Guzan
The American has kept Villa in so many games this season, and may have to be at his best again this time out.
RB: Alan Hutton
Hutton has been in good form for Villa this season, and will provide a quantifiable attacking threat from the right.
CB: Jores Okore
The young Dane has been in exceptional form since returning from injury.
CB: Nathan Baker
Baker has returned from injury just in time to replace the suspended Ciaran Clark.
LB: Aly Cisskho
Cissokho will be looking to get one over on former teammates in front of his new fans.
DM: Ashley Westwood
Villa’s string puller will be hoping not to be drowned out in the middle to help push Villa forward
CM: Carlos Sanchez
The Colombian has finally started to find his feet in English football and can break up play when needed, too.
CM: Fabian Delph
Returning from suspension, Delph has been linked with a move to Liverpool recently.
LW: Gabriel Agbonlahor
Despite him not performing on the wing, Paul Lambert will keep him there for his pace.
RW: Carles Gil
The new boy will go straight in for a baptism of fire.
ST: Christian Benteke
Villa will hope Gil will be able to find Benteke with greater success than his teammates to get him back amongst the goals.