MatchThe opposition lowdown: Aston Villa
Recent form
This game comes five days before Villa's Europa League final with SC Freiburg in Istanbul.
Unai Emery's men sit one place below the Reds in fifth in the Premier League standings, level on points with 59 but behind on goal difference.
They have won one of their last five league matches – at home to Sunderland – and drew 2-2 at Burnley last weekend.
Nottingham Forest were on the receiving end of a 4-1 aggregate loss in the semi-finals as the Villans secured their spot in the European showpiece.
Key players
Morgan Rogers has appeared in all 53 of Villa's matches so far this season, contributing with 12 goals and a team-high 10 assists.
Ollie Watkins is their top scorer with 17 strikes in all competitions and has missed just one game in the term.
Emiliano Buendia and captain John McGinn, stars of their second-leg win against Forest in the Europa League last four, have chipped in with 10 and nine goals respectively.
Previous meeting
The reserve fixture at Anfield at the beginning of November ended in a 2-0 victory for Liverpool.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time and the points were wrapped up with a deflected Ryan Gravenberch hit.
Team news
Amadou Onana, Alysson and Boubacar Kamara have been ruled out of the encounter due to injury.
Harvey Elliott moved to Villa on loan at the start of September and is ineligible to feature against his parent club.
What they said
Emery, Villa head coach
"Everything is very important and in the process we are [in] each game is very important. But now we are getting to the end of the season with the target so, so close – the highest target we expected at the beginning. To finish the season in the top five is really something fantastic.
"It's a fantastic match. I'm very motivated and excited, looking forward to the test as a team and as individuals. In Villa Park we will try to create a great atmosphere. Our supporters must be with us and it should be a very good day."
Stats
Villa have lost four of their last eight home Premier League games (won three, drawn one), having won eight on the bounce beforehand.
They have been the victors in just one of their last 16 league matches against Liverpool (drawn three, lost 12) – a 7-2 home win in October 2020.
Watkins only has more Premier League goal involvements against Brighton & Hove Albion (11) and Newcastle United (nine) than he does versus the Reds (eight – six goals, two assists).
McGinn has been involved in five goals in his last six appearances for Villa in all competitions (two goals, three assists).