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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Liverpool make two changes for Aston Villa as Curtis Jones absence explained

Sadio Mane drops to the Liverpool bench as Jurgen Klopp makes two changes for the visit of Aston Villa.

Naby Keita is also part of the substitutes as James Milner comes in for the Guinea international against Dean Smith's Villains.

Mane, who is celebrating his 29th birthday on Saturday, sits it out in favour of Roberto Firmino, as the Brazilian returns to the Liverpool frontline alongside Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah.

Keita was brought off before half time of Tuesday's 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid and misses out in favour of Milner, who started last week's 3-0 win at Arsenal in midfield before switching to left-back on the hour mark.

Curtis Jones misses out all together as a precaution over a 'muscle issue' while Divock Origi is also left out of the match-day squad.

Liverpool haven't played at Anfield for over a month and are aiming to end a run that has seen them lose the last six games at home.

Victory will send the Reds into the top four, if only temporarily, with Chelsea up against Crystal Palace later this evening.

Liverpool: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Kabak, Phillips, Robertson; Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Jota.

Subs: Adrian, Thiago, Keita, Mane, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tsimikas, Shaqiri, Davies, R. Williams.

Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Luiz, Nakamba, Traore, McGinn, Trezeguet, Watkins.

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