A few short seasons ago, this match would have had major implications for the top half of the table. Liverpool were perennial Champions League participants and Aston Villa under Martin O'Neill were regulars in the Europa League, and were typically in top for contention for most of the season. Now, thinks have changed, and this is a relegation-threatened team of youngsters visiting a mid-table side clinging to its history. But that's football, I suppose.
Brendan Rodgers appears to be continuing the Jonjo Shelvey at centre forward experiment, which is interesting but probably a good idea -- Luis Suarez is a phenomenal goalscorer but what makes his so special is that he can score from a support role out wide. And it's not as though the Reds have many better options than Shelvey to play him off.
Liverpool starting lineup (4-3-3): Pepe Reina; Stewart Downing, Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger, Glen Johnson; Joe Allen, Lucas Leiva, Steven Gerrard; Luis Suarez, Jonjo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling.
Substitutes from: Brad Jones, Sebastian Coates, Jamie Carragher, Andre Wisdom, Joe Cole, Jordan Henderson, Suso.
Aston Villa starting lineup (3-5-2): Brad Guzan; Ciaran Clark, Nathan Baker, Chris Herd; Eric Lichaj, Brett Holman, Ashley Westwood, Barry Bannan, Matthew Lowton; Christian Benteke, Andreas Wiemann.
Substitutes from: Shay Given, Joseph Bennett, Karim El Ahmadi, Charles N'Zogbia, Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph, Jordan Bowery.
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