Picking the Right Liverpool Team to Down Aston Villa at Villa Park

With Liverpool having got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start last weekend with a narrow 1-0 win over Stoke City at Anfield, the Reds now travel to Aston Villa on Saturday evening for their first away fixture of the new season in front of the live TV cameras.

And manager Brendan Rodgers will need to get his team selection absolutely spot on against Paul Lambert’s men, who themselves collected all three points last Saturday with a shock 3-1 win at Arsenal in what was undoubtedly the most eye-catching result of the opening weekend.

So could the Northern Irishman alter his starting lineup—and perhaps shape, too—from the Potters match to take into account the tricky-looking trip to Villa Park? Or will Rodgers instead follow the tried-and-trusted mantra of never changing a winning team?

Well, either way, this is the side we think the Reds should send out in the Midlands to get the three points and maintain the Merseysiders’ 100 percent start to their top-flight campaign.

Goalkeeper: Simon Mignolet

The Belgian made a dream start to life at Liverpool by saving Jonathan Walters’ late spot-kick at Anfield on Saturday—as well as keeping out Kenwyne Jones’ goal-bound follow-up—to preserve the home side’s slender 1-0 lead.

However, despite crowning his Reds debut with both a clean sheet and a win, the 25-year-old was far from convincing at times at Stoke, especially when tested in the air, and you can be sure that Villa will be seeking to exploit that weakness at Villa Park this weekend.

Right-Back: Glen Johnson

The marauding England international is now one of the first names down on the Liverpool teamsheet, and that will not change on Saturday, with Johnson’s importance to the way Rodgers likes his sides to play even more vital when away from home.

That is because the right-back is often required to spend as much time keeping the opposition left-back occupied as he is protecting his own goal, and there are few better full-backs in the Premier League with the pace, stamina and skill to undertake such a job than Johnson.

Centre-Back: Daniel Agger

Now the longest-serving member of the Reds’ back five, Agger appears not to have been affected at all by the recent speculation regarding his future at Anfield, despite his conceding of a late penalty against Stoke that is.

And you can be sure he will be needed once again to marshal the defence against the dual threat of pacy front men Christian Benteke and Gabriel Agbonlahor this weekend if the Reds are to get a result in the Midlands.

Centre-Back: Kolo Toure

The experienced Ivorian has made an impressive start to his Liverpool career since joining the club on a free transfer from Manchester City last month.

And the 32-year-old turned in another accomplished display at the back against Stoke. However, Toure’s pace and reading of the game are likely to be far more tested by the in-form striking duo of Benteke and Agbonlahor on Saturday, than he was in having to deal with the Potters’ aerial bombardment at Anfield last weekend.

Left-Back: Jose Enrique

Despite the arrival of France left-back Aly Cissokho from Valencia, Enrique remains Rodgers’ first-choice left-sided full-back, for now at least.

However, the Spaniard now knows there is competition for his place, which is never a bad thing and something he did not have last season, so it will be interesting to see how the 27-year-old responds to that challenge, starting at Villa on Saturday.

Defensive Midfielder: Lucas Levia

The Brazilian is likely to have a key role to play at Villa Park this weekend, protecting his back four from the home team’s pacy forward line while also trying to help exploit Lambert’s side by initiating quick breaks on the counter.

Defensive Midfielder: Joe Allen

Rodgers is more than likely to introduce the Wales international at the expense of Jordan Henderson against Villa, which will be harsh on the former Sunderland man after his all-action display against the Potters.

However, that match was at Anfield against supposedly “weak” opposition, whereas Saturday’s fixture is a tough-looking assignment away from home against a team brimming with confidence after their opening-day win at Arsenal, hence the need of an extra body to put out fires in front of the defence.

Central/Attacking Midfielder: Steven Gerrard (C)

Liverpool will need all of the 33-year-old’s experience, nous and attacking flair if they are to leave the Midlands this weekend with all three points, as they did thanks to Steven Gerrard’s winner in this very same fixture last March.

And if the Reds skipper can keep getting the ball to the visitors’ dangerous-looking front three often enough at Villa Park, then there is every chance the Merseysiders will continue their dominance over Villa in the Premier League era, especially on their travels.

Left-Sided Forward: Philippe Coutinho

On current form, and in the continued absence of the suspended Luis Suarez, the impish Brazilian is Liverpool’s most threatening and creative attacker, and that did not change against Stoke last weekend.

All that is good about the Reds starts at the feet of Coutinho, and the way in which he has already formed an almost telepathic understanding with striker Daniel Sturridge bodes well for the future.

Put it this way: If the 21-year-old plays well and is on his game then so does the whole team. Villa will be going all-out to both prevent the ball from reaching the playmaker this Saturday, and when he is on the ball, they'll need to focus on closing Coutinho down quickly before he hurts their back four.

Striker: Daniel Sturridge

What a relief for Liverpool to see the England international now fully recovered from the ankle ligament injury he sustained playing for his country against Republic of Ireland last May, a fact confirmed by his match-winning strike against Stoke.

And while clearly not yet 100 percent fit, the mere presence of the unpredictable Sturridge through the middle is enough to keep any back line on their toes, and Villa’s defence will be no different on Saturday as the 23-year-old goes in search of his eighth goal in his last seven outings for the club at Villa Park.

Right-Sided Forward: Iago Aspas

The diminutive Spaniard is already quickly developing a bit of a cult status at Anfield, and with good reason, too, following a number of eye-catching performances for the Reds since his £7.7 million arrival from Celta de Vigo earlier this summer.

And you get the feeling that the 26-year-old could be a key man on the road for Liverpool this season as he looks to link up with Coutinho in attack and help provide the team with more of a cutting edge up front, which they often lacked at times in the previous campaign.

So maybe a first competitive goal for the Merseysiders at Villa Park this weekend...?

Substitutes

GK: Brad Jones
CB/RB: Andre Wisdom
MD: Jordan Henderson
LM: Luis Alberto
RM: Raheem Sterling
LM: Jordan Ibe
ST: Fabio Borini

Follow @Richiereds1976