Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Tuesday, 29 December 2009 Kick-off: 1945 GMT
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 Live, local radio & Sky Sports 1
TEAM NEWS
**Aston Villa winger Ashley Young will miss his first league game of the season as he serves a one-match ban for picking up five bookings.**Emile Heskey is doubtful with a groin problem, so John Carew might start.
Dirk Kuyt can expect a return to Liverpool’s starting line-up, having been rested for the Boxing Day home win over Wolves.
Javier Mascherano is still suspended, so Alberto Aquilani could play for the second time in three days.
MATCH PREVIEW
Aston Villa’s heavy defeat at Arsenal on Sunday was a rude awakening for a side that dares to dream of Champions League qualification.
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It ensured there would be no grand slam of victories for Villa over the established Big Four in the first half of the season. Nonetheless, they would surely settle for completing the league double over Liverpool, having won 3-1 at Anfield in August.
Liverpool can ill afford a repeat result, as it would leave them eight points adrift of Villa and struggling to deliver on their manager’s extraordinary promise of a top-four finish.
The visitors boast an excellent record at Villa Park, where they are unbeaten since 1998. In fact, since that year, Villa have not won at home to Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester United in the league.
Martin O’Neill’s side have broken down several barriers in 2009, but ending their poor home record against the best sides could be key to them becoming one themselves.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 11 league visits to Villa (W6, D5) since a 2-1 defeat in February 1998. Villa only scored in four of those fixtures.
• Villa are vying to achieve the league double over Liverpool for the first time since the inaugural Premier League season in 1992/93.
Aston Villa
• Villa suffered their first league defeat in eight games at Arsenal on Sunday.
• That 3-0 loss at The Emirates was Villa’s first defeat against a top-half side this season (W6, D2, L1).
• They have the second best defensive record in the top flight, conceding 17 goals compared to 15 by leaders Chelsea.
• Nigel Reo-Coker could make his 250th league appearance.
Liverpool
• Liverpool have already dropped 27 points this season, compared to 28 in the whole of last season.
• The Reds have won three of their last nine league games (W3, D3, L3) and mustered five victories out of 18 matches in all competitions, losing nine.
• They have lost four of their last six away games in the league, winning just once and scoring in only two of those games.
• Fernando Torres has scored 49 goals in 71 Premier League games and will become the fastest player ever to reach 50 league goals for Liverpool if he scores.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Peter Walton
Assistant referees: Nigel Bannister & Stuart Burt
Fourth official: Mike Jones
MOST RECENT MEETING
Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa (24 August 2009)
Liverpool scorer: Torres 72.
Aston Villa scorers: Lucas 34 og, Davies 45, A Young 75 pen.