Played
December 15, 2012 8:30 PM IST
Anfield — Liverpool
Referee:‬ N. Swarbrick‎
Attendance:‬ 44607‎
 
87′ Steven Gerrard
C. Benteke 29′
 
Andreas Weimann 40′
 
C. Benteke 51′

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

More On :  Aston Villa, Liverpool, Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Brendan Rodgers
Getty
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

LIVERPOOL
Liverpool
Reina
Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Downing
Sterling, Shelvey, Lucas, Suso
Gerrard
Suarez
ASTON VILLA
  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Nuri Sahin (face) missed the win on Sunday and is also in line for a return after being withdrawn during the win over Udinese.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.
  • 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.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa
    20.25 %
  • Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa
    14.67 %
  • Liverpool 3-1 Aston Villa
    14.57 %
Head to Head
English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 31-Mar-2013 Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 2
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 15-Dec-2012 Liverpool 1 - Aston Villa 3
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 07-Apr-2012 Liverpool 1 - Aston Villa 1
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 18-Dec-2011 Aston Villa 0 - Liverpool 2
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English Premier League (EPL) ‎(EPL)‎ 22-May-2011 Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 0
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Last Five Matches
Liverpool
19-May-2013Liverpool 1 - QPR 0EPL
12-May-2013Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3EPL
05-May-2013Liverpool 0 - Everton 0EPL
27-Apr-2013Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6EPL
21-Apr-2013Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
Aston Villa
19-May-2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2EPL
11-May-2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
04-May-2013Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2EPL
30-Apr-2013Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1EPL
23-Apr-2013Manchester United 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Odds
Team News
Available Squads
25José Reina PaezGoalkeeper
2Glen JohnsonDefender
5Daniel AggerDefender
37Martin SkrtelDefender
8Steven GerrardMidfielder
19Stewart DowningMidfielder
21Lucas LeivaMidfielder
24Joe AllenMidfielder
31Raheem SterlingMidfielder
33Jonjo ShelveyMidfielder
7Luis SuárezStriker
1Bradley JonesGoalkeeper
16Sebastián CoatesDefender
23Jamie CarragherDefender
47Andre Wisdom Defender
10Joe ColeMidfielder
14Jordan HendersonMidfielder
30SusoMidfielder
22Bradley GuzanGoalkeeper
6Ciaran ClarkDefender
30Eric LichajDefender
32Nathan BakerDefender
34Matthew LowtonDefender
14Brett HolmanMidfielder
15Ashley WestwoodMidfielder
25Barry BannanMidfielder
31Chris HerdMidfielder
20C. BentekeStriker
26Andreas WeimannStriker
1Shay GivenGoalkeeper
27Joseph BennettDefender
8Karim El AhmadiMidfielder
10Charles N'ZogbiaMidfielder
12Marc AlbrightonMidfielder
16Fabian DelphMidfielder
21Jordan Nathaniel BoweryStriker
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man. United 		26 3
Luis Suárez Luis Suárez
Striker
Liverpool 		23 0
Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0