Aston Villa Looking for Confidence-Boosting Mother's Day Success at Liverpool

There's no doubt about it, Liverpool are flying high at the moment. Eight goals in two games, against Manchester United and Real Madrid, sums it up really.

Aston Villa have slipped down to fifth, after failing to win in their last seven games, and there's no doubt about it, the advantage is with Arsenal when it comes to that fourth Champions League spot in the Premier League.

This view is backed up by Villa captain Gareth Barry, who said in the Daily Star (an English tabloid): "There are nine games to go. Now the advantage definitely lies with Arsenal...we are low on confidence."

Liverpool, a team exuberating confidence with devastatingly good form in recent times, on Sunday play host to Aston Villa, a team which has reached a new low in terms of confidence after becoming victims of their own success.

In their last 14 encounters, Aston Villa are yet to win, and yet to secure a top-flight victory over Liverpool.

Team News

Aston Villa

Striker John Carew could well return to the Aston Villa starting lineup, after convincing manager Martin O'Neill that he is back to full fitness following a recent back problem.

The Norwegian international heads to Anfield having netted twice recently as a substitute, against Stoke City and Tottenham Hotspur. He will battle with Emile Heskey and the currently goal-shy Gabriel Agbonlahor for a place.

Also, O'Neill has to decide whether left-back and fans favourite Wilfred Bouma is ready to play any part on Sunday, after eight months out of action with a dislocated ankle.

Midfielder Steve Sidwell could also come into the equation after returning to training following a recent ankle injury.

Liverpool

Liverpool will be hoping that key player Xabi Alonso shakes off a slight knock in time to take his place in central midfield.

The Spaniard has been nursing a calf strain of late, but could well be fit enough to make it for this all important clash.

Yossi Benayoun is sidelined with a hamstring injury, Philipp Degen has a groin strain but Alvaro Arbeloa could come into contention after tweaking a hamstring prior to Liverpool's Old Trafford success last weekend.

Danish shot-stopper Daniel Agger is another notable absentee, as he continues to nurse a back problem.

The favourites for this game clearly seem to be that in-form side, the currently rather mighty Liverpool FC. Aston Villa might not even get a look-in with their low confidence and form in recent times, but who will win in this all important clash for both sides?

I'll let you decide, but first giving you the thoughts of Gareth Barry on this matter. Still speaking with the Daily Star, the England international continued:

"We are one game away from a good performance and turning it around again, so we cannot worry about it too much. We have got to be positive.

"We have two tough fixtures coming up and if we deliver a performance of the season in one of them, it could catapult us to a good finish."

A "performance of the season." Can Aston Villa deliver that to make their mothers proud on Mother's Day?