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Played
December 15, 2012 8:30 PM IST
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: N. Swarbrick
Attendance: 44607
December 15, 2012 8:30 PM IST
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee: N. Swarbrick
Attendance: 44607
Liverpool - Aston Villa Preview: Suarez returns as Reds look for third win on the trot
Two managers who exceeded expectations at newly-promoted clubs last season come face to face in charge of their new sides, with both in need of a win after disappointing starts
By Alex Young
Getty
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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LIVERPOOL
![]() Reina Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Downing Sterling, Shelvey, Lucas, Suso Gerrard Suarez |
ASTON VILLA
![]() Guzan Lowton, Baker, Lichaj, Clark Agbonlahor, Bannan, Westwood, Herd Holman Benteke |
Liverpool top goalscorer Luis Suarez is available after serving a one-match ban and missing last weekend's comeback victory at West Ham.
Jose Enrique (hamstring) was taken off midway through the first half of the 3-2 win, but manager Brendan Rodgers branded it only "a precaution". The left-back is considered a doubt so Stewart Downing's continuing presence in the position is more likely.
Nuri Sahin (face) missed the win on Sunday and is also in line for a return after being withdrawn during the win over Udinese. Elsewhere, Martin Kelly (knee) and Fabio Borini (foot) are long-term absentees.
Paul Lambert has a long injury list, but Joe Bennett (knee), who missed Tuesday's Capital One Cup win over Norwich City could return. Captain Ron Vlaar (calf) and Enda Stevens (ankle) have not featured for three weeks so are unlikely to start.
Darren Bent (hamstring) was forced off in the win at Carrow Road in midweek with Lambert admitting he expects the striker to miss the next four weeks.
Long-term absentees Richard Dunne (groin) and Gary Gardner (knee) remain out for the foreseeable future.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Liverpool are undefeated in 20 of their last 22 matches against Aston Villa in all competitions.
- The Reds' win at West Ham last week sealed back-to-back league victories for the first time since December 2011.
- Liverpool are unbeaten in 10 of their last 11 matches in the Premier League. The Reds are 11/2 to win 2-0 with bet365.
- Aston Villa have failed to win 15 of their last 16 away matches in the Premier League.
- Stewart Downing's (pictured right) last Premier League goal was for Aston Villa against Liverpool.
- No team has scored fewer goals in the opening 15 minutes than Villa this season.
- All three of top goalscorer Christian Benteke's Premier League goals have come at Villa Park.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa
- 20.25 %
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Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa
- 14.67 %
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Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa
- 14.57 %
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 31-Mar-2013 | Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 2 | |
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 15-Dec-2012 | Liverpool 1 - Aston Villa 3 | |
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 07-Apr-2012 | Liverpool 1 - Aston Villa 1 | |
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 18-Dec-2011 | Aston Villa 0 - Liverpool 2 | |
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | 22-May-2011 | Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 0 |
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| 19-May-2013 | Liverpool 1 - QPR 0 | EPL |
| 12-May-2013 | Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3 | EPL |
| 05-May-2013 | Liverpool 0 - Everton 0 | EPL |
| 27-Apr-2013 | Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6 | EPL |
| 21-Apr-2013 | Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2 | EPL |
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| 19-May-2013 | Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| 11-May-2013 | Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2 | EPL |
| 04-May-2013 | Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2 | EPL |
| 30-Apr-2013 | Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1 | EPL |
| 23-Apr-2013 | Manchester United 3 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
| 25 | José Reina Paez | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Glen Johnson | Defender |
| 5 | Daniel Agger | Defender |
| 37 | Martin Skrtel | Defender |
| 8 | Steven Gerrard | Midfielder |
| 19 | Stewart Downing | Midfielder |
| 21 | Lucas Leiva | Midfielder |
| 24 | Joe Allen | Midfielder |
| 31 | Raheem Sterling | Midfielder |
| 33 | Jonjo Shelvey | Midfielder |
| 7 | Luis Suárez | Striker |
| 1 | Bradley Jones | Goalkeeper |
| 16 | Sebastián Coates | Defender |
| 23 | Jamie Carragher | Defender |
| 47 | Andre Wisdom | Defender |
| 10 | Joe Cole | Midfielder |
| 14 | Jordan Henderson | Midfielder |
| 30 | Suso | Midfielder |
| 22 | Bradley Guzan | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Ciaran Clark | Defender |
| 30 | Eric Lichaj | Defender |
| 32 | Nathan Baker | Defender |
| 34 | Matthew Lowton | Defender |
| 14 | Brett Holman | Midfielder |
| 15 | Ashley Westwood | Midfielder |
| 25 | Barry Bannan | Midfielder |
| 31 | Chris Herd | Midfielder |
| 20 | C. Benteke | Striker |
| 26 | Andreas Weimann | Striker |
| 1 | Shay Given | Goalkeeper |
| 27 | Joseph Bennett | Defender |
| 8 | Karim El Ahmadi | Midfielder |
| 10 | Charles N'Zogbia | Midfielder |
| 12 | Marc Albrighton | Midfielder |
| 16 | Fabian Delph | Midfielder |
| 21 | Jordan Nathaniel Bowery | Striker |
Results
Times In IST
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Robin van Persie Striker Man. United |
26 | 3 |
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Luis Suárez Striker Liverpool |
23 | 0 |
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Gareth Bale Midfielder Tottenham |
21 | 0 |
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C. Benteke Striker Aston Villa |
19 | 3 |
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Michu Midfielder Swansea City |
19 | 0 |


