Liverpool v Aston Villa team news
Friday, 27 October 2006 16:30Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler looks set to retain his place alongside Peter Crouch.
Craig Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Fabio Aurelio are all extremely unlikely to recover from calf injuries in time for tomorrow's visit of Aston Villa.
Chilean winger Mark Gonzalez is sidelined by a groin problem and joins long-term victim Harry Kewell on the casualty list.
Captain Steven Gerrard returns following Wednesday's 4-3 Carling Cup win over Reading - in which Fowler scored the opening goal - along with Steve Finnan, Jamie Carragher and Sami Hyypia.
Aston Villa midfielder Gavin McCann is ruled out of a third successive match with the calf injury suffered in training 10 days ago.
Wilfred Bouma is poised to earn a call-up at left-back, which will allow skipper Gareth Barry to revert to his preferred midfield role for the trip to Anfield.
Milan Baros is expected to retain his place up front despite struggling for form since his return from a foot injury.
Goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen is available after missing the 3-2 Carling Cup win at Leicester with a sore shoulder as Villa look to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Liverpool: Reina, Martin, Finnan, Carragher, Agger, Warnock, Paletta, Hyypia, Riise, Luis Garcia, Gerrard, Zenden, Sissoko, Xabi Alonso, Pennant, Crouch, Fowler.
Aston Villa: Sorensen, Taylor, Hughes, Mellberg, Ridgewell, Bouma, Agbonlahor, Petrov, Davis, Barry, Angel, Barry, Osbourne, Laursen, Agathe, Sutton, Gardner, Whittingham, Cahill, Djemba-Djemba.
