Steven Gerrard’s Anfield return has dominated the buildup, with the Liverpool legend making his first competitive appearance at the ground since leaving in 2015. However, emotions will be quickly parked – for both the Aston Villa manager and his opposite number, Jürgen Klopp – as the business of claiming vital points takes priority. The visitors have won three of the four matches under their new manager while Liverpool can equal a club record of scoring in 31 successive games, set as a Division Two side between April 1957 and January 1958, should they find the target again. A home win would take Klopp over the 500-points mark as a Premier League manager. Andy Hunter
Saturday 3pm
Venue Anfield
Last season Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 1
Referee Stuart Attwell
This season G9 Y29 R0 3.22 cards/game
Odds H 3-11 A 12-1 D 6-1
LIVERPOOL
Subs from Kelleher, Pitaluga, N Williams, Gomez, Konaté, Tsimikas,
Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Morton, Keïta, Minamino, Jota
Doubtful Jota (muscle)
Injured Phillips (fractured cheekbone, 3-4 weeks), Adrián (calf, unknown), Firmino
(hamstring, 1-2 weeks), Jones (eye, unknown), Elliott (ankle, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y19 R0
Form DLWWWW
Leading scorer Salah 13
ASTON VILLA
Subs from Steer, Archer, El Ghazi, Hause, Bogarde, Tuanzebe, Caleb Chukwuemeka, Sanson, Ings, Young
Doubtful Sanson (illness), Ings (hamstring)
Injured Traore (thigh, 3 weeks), Bailey (thigh, 3 weeks), Trezeguet (knee, 1 week)
Suspended None
Discipline Y32 R1
Form LLWWLW
Leading scorer Watkins 4
