Liverpool Vs Aston Villa Tonight

Steven Gerrard At Aston Villa It was one thing to see Man City ahead of Liverpool in the table but after last night it is Everton AND Manchester City who sit atop Liverpool in the Premier League.

So we’re currently in sixth spot, a win tonight would have us back to fourth, still with a game in hand over the rest of the top four and it’s Aston Villa who provide the opposition.

A win for Villa though would propel them up the table and leave Liverpool seventh with only a game in hand and we’re 15 points off the top of the table as it is.

Negativity aside there is a bright point or two in the game. Martin Skrtel is looking set to get his Liverpool debut though this hasn’t been confirmed. He’s been doing well on the training ground, spending time before the weekend training alongside Jamie Carragher - could he start in place of Sami Hyypia? Would be nice to have him make an appearance, but at this stage of proceedings it’s more important to get the job done right don’t you think?

Mind you, we’re without Daniel Agger until the middle of February, or so it seems, so maybe some fresh legs in the heart of the defence will do the trick at this point of the season.

Since he’s currently on loan at Villa, Scott Carson won’t have to face the wrath of Torres, Kuyt & co. due to his loan contract so Stuart Taylor is going to deputise in his place. Villa’s only injury doubt for the game looks to be skipper Gareth Barry though he’s likely to pull through a bruised pelvis to take to the pitch tonight.

Going into tonight’s game, Villa are on the back of 3 straight wins in the league while Liverpool take three straight draws with them, disappointing when you think the difference that those six extra points could be making ahead of tonight’s game, at least providing more of cushion for a start.

But we’re not about sitting back and resting are we? Fighting tooth and nail for a top four finish is more like it so I’m expecting a Liverpool win. Torres and Crouch to start would be a decent move, perhaps bringing on both Kuyt and Voronin during the game, get a bit of pace and variety in there.

Above all else it’s vital to take three points. A fourth draw would be a waste of one of the two games we have in hand, a single point doing nothing for Liverpool in the short term, leaving us tied with Villa.

Give us the three points, give us back fourth place and let’s go unbeaten for the remainder of the season, with wins please - no draws).

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