Liverpool v Villa LIVE!

KO: 1500

LFC: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Thiago, Henderson, Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane

Subs: Kelleher, Konate, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Minamino, Jota, Tsimikas, Williams.

Liverpool return to Anfield with electricity in the air after a 94th minute winner at Wolves last round provided drama, while midweek European action saw their depth tested but ultimately triumph with a 2-1 win over Italian outfit AC Milan. The ‘Reds’ now stalk Premier League (PL) champions Manchester City, who ironically play Wolves in the early Saturday kick-off, as Liverpool continue their quest to reclaim pole position for the first time since matchday six.

Jürgen Klopp’s men have overwhelmed their opposition early, having led at half-time on ten occasions this PL campaign, a league-high figure. It’ll be a rollercoaster of emotion when ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ rings out pre-match, as in the opposition dugout will sit the club’s third-highest appearance maker of all time, with Steven Gerrard now finding himself in the Aston Villa hotseat.

Villa have won three of their four PL games (L1) under Gerrard, doubling their win tally from the first 11 league games of the season and catapulting them to within six points of the European places. Despite the results, the ‘Villains’ have proven tough opposition for most recently, with four of their last five PL matches being decided by just a single goal.

While securing a historic 7-2 H2H win at Villa Park last season will boost confidence, the visitors will know they’ve lost on their last three PL trips to Anfield. Villa have often been exposed on their PL travels this season as well, after winning only six of their 19 league points away from home.

Players to watch: Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah has either scored or assisted in his last four matchups against Villa (G4, A1), whose Ollie Watkins has seen all of his four goals this PL season serve as his side’s first of the match.

Hot stat: Liverpool have only lost once in the last 16 occasions when a former player returns to Anfield as an opposing PL manager (W14, D1).