STEVEN GERRARD heads back to Anfield as Liverpool take on Aston Villa in the Premier League NOW.
Possibly the Reds’ greatest ever player returns to his old stomping ground, where he scored 186 goals in 710 matches from the heart of midfield.
And now, after two seasons at Rangers, he is turning around the ship at Villa.
Meanwhile, Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking to keep up the pace with leaders Manchester City, with the Reds also a point ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League title race.
- Kick-off time: 3pm
- Live stream and TV channel: The match is not being shown on TV due to Uefa’s blackout rules.
- Liverpool team: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago, Salah, Mane, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
- Aston Villa team: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Douglas Luiz, Ramsey, Young, Watkins.
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Stay up to date with all the latest from Anfield in our live blog below…
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
50. Cash launches the throw long and into the box, which Matip heads away.
The Reds then win a free kick as McGinn brings down Thiago midway inside Liverpool’s half.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
49. The ball is towards Watkins at the back post, but Van Dijk is there to head clear.
It doesn’t get very far though, and is out for a Villa throw.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
48. Aston Villa corner.
Douglas Luiz tries his luck from range with a speculative effort.
It takes a nick of Oxlade-Chamberlain and bounces behind for a corner to the visitors.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
47. Salah expertly takes two men out of the game with a glorious touch on the right hand side to bring down a Fabinho pass.
He tries to curl in a ball towards Mane at the back post, but Cash is there to head away.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
46. The home side get the game back underway.
Matip immediately goes long towards Mane, but his ball has too much on it and is out for an Aston Villa throw-in.
PEEP!
THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY AT ANFIELD!
AS IT STANDS
Here’s a look at what the half time scores mean for the live Premier League table.
City are currently extending their lead at the top with Liverpool and Chelsea both dropping points as things stand.
Aston Villa meanwhile are on the cusp of the top ten.
ACTION SHOT
Virgil van Dijk and Ollie Watkins battling for the ball in the first half.
Watkins has done well up against the centre-back so far, forcing the Dutchman into taking an early booking.
Credit: EPA STAT ATTACK
Here’s a look at the half time stats, courtesy of Opta.
Liverpool have dominated the ball, and have managed three shots on target so far.
Aston Villa meanwhile are yet to have an effort on target in the game.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Here’s the scores on the doors from the 3pm kick offs:
- Liverpool 0-0 Aston Villa
- Chelsea 1-1 Leeds
- Arsenal 2-0 Southampton
HT: LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
Nothing to report from the two added minutes at Anfield.
The two sides head into the break all square after the first half of action.
It’s been an entertaining game, going the way many would have expected it too.
Liverpool have dominated the ball, with Villa challenging them to break them down and then play on the counter attack.
Martinez has been called into action a couple of times, with Alisson yet to be tested by the visitors.
As it stands Liverpool fall three points behind Manchester City, with Chelsea being held by Leeds 1-1 at home.
All to play for in the second half!
HALF TIME!
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA!
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
45. Two minutes added time are signalled for the end of the first half.
The rain is hammering down at Anfield as Jurgen Klopp and Steven Gerrard watch on.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
44. GOOD SAVE!
Salah twists and turns on the right hand side, evading the challenge of Mings and setting up room for a shot.
He tries to catch out Martinez at his near post, but the Villa keeper flings himself down to his left to claw the ball away.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
43. Thiago sprays a long ball forwards that is collected by Robertson in acres of space.
He swings a cross in towards Henderson, with the Liverpool skipper trying to flick it on at the near post.
It looks like it strikes Mings on the arm while he’s on the floor, with the home crowd calling for a penalty again.
Nothing doing again, and the referee waves play on.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
41. A mix-up between Alexander-Arnold and Alisson nearly lets Young through on goal.
Both Liverpool men leave a ball into the box for each other, with Young ready to pounce.
Eventually Alexander-Arnold pokes it clear, but that was almost an embarrassing mistake from the pair.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
40. Steven Gerrard will be delighted with what he’s seen from his Villa side so far.
Yes Liverpool have dominated the game, but the home side haven’t really had a clear cut chance of note.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
38. Alexander-Arnold fizzes a ball in towards the feet of Salah on the edge of the Villa box.
He goes down with Targett next to him, but the referee isn’t interested.
It didn’t look like Salah would have been able to reach the ball even if he was on his feet.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
37. Mane has to do better there!
He beats Cash all ends up on the left, and breaks into the box unopposed.
The forward has all the time in the world to pick out a cross, but can’t beat Konsa at the near post.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
36. The corner is dealt with easily enough by Villa and cleared downfield.
Just under ten minutes to play until the break.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
35. Another Liverpool corner.
Intense pressure from Liverpool now as an Alexander-Arnold cross in from the right is deflected behind by Douglas Luiz.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
34. Liverpool decide to go short with the third one, into the feet of Thiago.
He tries to take on McGinn, but the Villa man stands his ground and wins the ball off the Spaniard.
McGinn then earns himself a free kick as Thiago tugs on his shirt.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
33. Robertson’s cross is headed behind by Watkins at the front post for another corner.
The second delivery is deeper, and this time headed behind for a corner by Ramsey.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
32. Liverpool corner.
Robertson crosses in from the left, sending the ball off the chest of Cash and out for a corner.
Robertson himself comes across to take it.
LIVERPOOL 0-0 ASTON VILLA
30. CLOSE!
Alisson comes flying off his line to deal with a ball over the top, but gets it all wrong and ends up on the deck.
He’s in no man’s land, but as Young tries to lift the ball towards Watkins for a tap in Matip throws his head at the ball and smuggles it clear.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
