England - Premier League
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Played
May 22, 2011 4:00 PM BST
Villa Park — Birmingham
Referee:‬ L. Probert‎
Attendance:‬ 42785‎
 
33′ Stewart Downing
 

Premier League Preview: Aston Villa - Liverpool

Villans look for second victory under caretaker manager Gary McAllister as Kenny Dalglish's men seek to bounce back from damaging loss to Spurs

By Matt Monaghan

More On :  Aston Villa, Liverpool, Aston Villa vs Liverpool
EPL,Michael Dawson, Luis Suarez,Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur
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PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (4-4-1-1):
Friedel; Walker, Dunne, Collins, L Young; Downing, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Delph; A Young; Bent.
Caretaker boss Gary McAllister is expected to stick with the same team that beat Arsenal 2-1 last Sunday.

Cameroon midfielder Jean Makoun is still suffering from a dead leg and is expected to miss out again.
Liverpool (4-4-2):
Reina; Flanagan, Carragher, Skrtel, Johnson; Kuyt, Spearing, Lucas, Maxi; Suarez, Carroll.
Striker Andy Carroll is likely to start for Liverpool despite the problems caused by a long-standing knee injury.

A similar knock is likely to see Raul Meireles sidelined again after he missed the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • If Liverpool do not better Spurs' result on Sunday, next season will be the first time the club hasn't played European football since 1999-2000.
  • Liverpool gained 25 points in 21 Premier League games under Roy Hodgson, while successor Kenny Dalglish has registered 33 points in just 16 games.
  • Aston Villa's record signing Darren Bent, with nine, has scored more than a third of the club's 26 league goals since he joined in January.
  • Villa's maximum final league tally of 48 points would be their worst finish since 2005-06 when they finished 16th on 42 points.
  • In 179 meetings in all competitions, Liverpool have won 88, Villa have won 53, and 38 have been drawn.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Aston Villa 0-9 Liverpool
    21.61 %
  • Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
    12.31 %
  • Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool
    12.31 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Mar 31, 2013 Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 2
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 15, 2012 Liverpool 1 - Aston Villa 3
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Apr 7, 2012 Liverpool 1 - Aston Villa 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 18, 2011 Aston Villa 0 - Liverpool 2
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ May 22, 2011 Aston Villa 1 - Liverpool 0
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Last Five Matches
Aston Villa
May 19, 2013Wigan Athletic 2 - Aston Villa 2EPL
May 11, 2013Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
May 4, 2013Norwich City 1 - Aston Villa 2EPL
Apr 29, 2013Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1EPL
Apr 22, 2013Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Liverpool
May 19, 2013Liverpool 1 - QPR 0EPL
May 12, 2013Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3EPL
May 5, 2013Liverpool 0 - Everton 0EPL
Apr 27, 2013Newcastle 0 - Liverpool 6EPL
Apr 21, 2013Liverpool 2 - Chelsea FC 2EPL
Odds
Returns: Aston Villa £36.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Draw £34.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Liverpool £22.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
24Brad FriedelGoalkeeper
18Luke YoungDefender
5Richard DunneDefender
19James CollinsDefender
28Kyle WalkerDefender
19Stewart DowningMidfielder
19Stilian PetrovMidfielder
18Ashley YoungMidfielder
13Nigel Reo-CokerMidfielder
16Fabian DelphMidfielder
9Darren BentStriker
33Andy MarshallGoalkeeper
6Ciaran ClarkDefender
4Michael BradleyMidfielder
12Marc AlbrightonMidfielder
8Robert PiresMidfielder
11Gabriel AgbonlahorStriker
18Emile HeskeyStriker
25José Reina PaezGoalkeeper
-Fabio AurelioDefender
23Jamie CarragherDefender
37Martin SkrtelDefender
38John FlanaganDefender
14Raúl MeirelesMidfielder
11Dirk KuytStriker
10Joe ColeMidfielder
21Lucas LeivaMidfielder
20Jay SpearingMidfielder
7Luis SuárezStriker
42Peter GulacsiGoalkeeper
47Andre Wisdom Defender
22Danny WilsonDefender
49Jack RobinsonDefender
33Jonjo ShelveyMidfielder
5Christian PoulsenMidfielder
24David NgogStriker
Players to Watch
Ashley Young
Ashley Young
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 18
Games Goals YC RC
19 0 1 0
If the rumour mill is to be believed, Villa midfielder Ashley Young could be playing against his next employers this weekend. The England international is winding down his contract and is expected to join Liverpool or Manchester United this summer.

If he can add to his league tally this term of seven goals and 10 assists he could unwittingly end his hope of European football next term if he later makes the switch to Anfield.
John Flanagan
John Flanagan
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 38
Games Goals YC RC
0 0 0 0
Mass changes are meant to be afoot this summer at Liverpool and John Flanagan will be out to convince Dalglish none are needed at right-back. The 18-year-old has fitted seamlessly into the first team but committed a clumsy challenge that persuaded referee Howard Webb - rightly or wrongly - to point to the spot in the crucial defeat to Spurs.

If the England under-19 call-up can keep senior stars Ashley Young and Stewart Downing quiet on Sunday his error will quickly be forgotten.
Probable Lineups
Brad Friedel 24
Luke Young 18
Richard Dunne 5
James Collins 19
Kyle Walker 28
Stewart Downing 19
Stilian Petrov 19
Ashley Young 18
Nigel Reo-Coker 13
Fabian Delph 16
Darren Bent 9
José Reina Paez 25
Fabio Aurelio 0
Jamie Carragher 23
Martin Skrtel 37
John Flanagan 38
Raúl Meireles 14
Dirk Kuyt 11
Joe Cole 10
Lucas Leiva 21
Jay Spearing 20
Luis Suárez 7
Prediction
Liverpool still have everything to play for while Villa can't wait to end a season to forget. With the bit between their teeth, expect Dalglish's men to end with a flourish.
Editor's Prediction
Aston Villa 0
Liverpool 3
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		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