Aston Villa vs. Liverpool: Issues, Decisions That Will Shape Premier League Game

Liverpool head to the Midlands this Saturday looking to avenge what was arguably their most disappointing defeat of the season, when Aston Villa walked away with three points in the corresponding fixture at Anfield back in September.

Gabriel Agbonlahor's goal gave Paul Lambert's side the victory in Liverpool's first match without Daniel Sturridge. Villa have won just one Premier League away game since.

Mind you, they've only won two at Villa Park all season.

Can Liverpool put more misery on Lambert, or will his side pull off a surprise victory again?

Here are the issues and decisions that will shape the Premier League encounter.

Liverpool's Forward

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Raheem Sterling enjoyed a well-earned winter break, missing the last two outings at AFC Wimbledon and Sunderland while taking a holiday in Jamaica.

Sterling has returned to training this week. "Raheem’s back in the squad which is good news,” said Rodgers at his pre-match press conference (via This Is Anfield). "He’s refreshed and ready to work."

Sterling had moved into the centre-forward role prior to his rest period, impressing in the position, too.

Those two games he's missed have seen Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini start in his absence, with Mario Balotelli a substitute in each game.

Rodgers must decide whether to bring Sterling in up front, or keep with Borini and have Sterling in one of the two attacking midfield roles.

Aston Villa's Defence

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Villa have been rocked by the news that captain Ron Vlaar has been sidelined for "four to six weeks" (per BBC Sport).

With Ciaran Clark dismissed in their last game against Leicester, and Philippe Senderos still sidelined with injury, Villa are facing a shortage of centre-backs.

Jores Okore and Nathan Baker could line up as the centre-backs, with Alan Hutton and Aly Cissokho—who spent last season on loan at Liverpool—at full-back.

Liverpool will certainly be looking to pressure the inexperienced defence.

Gerrard Inclusion?

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Steven Gerrard didn't take part in Liverpool's full training session on Thursday, with Rodgers saying at his pre-match press conference that the captain's fitness was being "monitored" (as per This Is Anfield).

Gerrard was removed at half-time of the 1-0 win at Sunderland last time out, suffering with a hamstring niggle.

It's unlikely, therefore, that the 34-year-old will start this match, meaning Liverpool's only change is likely to be Sterling coming in for Gerrard.

That would mean Borini continuing up front, if that was the only change the Reds boss made.

Alternatively, Rodgers could play Sterling up front, move Lazar Markovic into the attacking-midfield spot Gerrard occupied in the last two games, and bring Javier Manquillo in on the right.

New Boy Carles Gil

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Villa signed Carles Gil from Valencia for £3.2 million earlier this week (per BBC Sport).

"He’ll give us something I think we’ve been crying out for," Lambert said. "That creativity spark, and that’s what we’ve been needing to finish off the work."

Lambert must decide whether to hand Gil his Premier League debut for this match, and how the Spaniard performs on his debut could have a major bearing on the outcome.

So often we see players raise their game for incredible debut performances in front of an eager home crowd.

How Gil performs, if selected, and how he dovetails with Villa's other attacking threats could be key for the home side.