Steven Gerrard captains Liverpool against Aston Villa

The Reds captain, with just 27 minutes of football behind him since mid-February because of injury and suspension, was one of three changes with Martin Skrtel also back from a ban and Lazar Markovic recalled but striker Daniel Sturridge had not recovered from a hip problem.

Villa made four changes with goalkeeper Shay Given, Nathan Baker, Ashley Westwood and Charles N'Zogbia all coming in from last weekend's win over Tottenham with the key absentee being Gabriel Agbonlahor, out with a hamstring strain.

Aston Villa: Given, Bacuna, Baker, Vlaar, Richardson, Westwood, Delph (c), Cleverley, Grealish, N’Zogbia, Benteke. Subs: Guzan, Okore, Sinclair, Weimann, Cole, Lowton, Gil.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Can, Skrtel, Lovren, Moreno, Allen, Henderson, Gerrard, Markovic, Coutinho, Sterling. Subs: Jones, Johnson, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Borini, Balotelli.