Premier League preview: Liverpool v Aston Villa

After sealing their berth in the Europa League knockout stages, Liverpool return to the Premier League to host Aston Villa on Monday.

Roy Hodgson took an inexperienced side to Steaua Bucharest on Thursday, and the Reds repaid his faith with a 1-1 draw, securing Liverpool’s progression to the next stage of Europe’s second-tier tournament.

But things are not so rosy at home, where Liverpool have drifted back to 10th on the domestic table with two losses in three games.

Most recently, Hodgson’s side went down 2-1 at Tottenham, with Martin Skrtel gifting the Spurs an own goal and Aaron Lennon notching the winner in extra time.

The loss prompted whispers of Hodgson’s demise at Anfield once more, with the 63-year-old rumoured to have been told to find improvement before the mid-season break or face the axe.

But Liverpool will have fresh legs on Monday after Hodgson chose to rest Fernando Torres, Dirk Kuyt, Raul Meireles, Glen Johnson and Paul Konchesky for the mid-week game at Bucharest.

Furthermore, the Reds will be boosted by the return of England international and former Chelsea winger Joe Cole.

Cole, who spent six weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, made it through 75 minutes on Thursday and will no doubt make a timely league return against the Villans.

The game will be an emotional one for Villa boss Gerard Houllier, who makes his homecoming to the club he led to six trophies between 1998 and 2004.

But Houllier cannot afford to get sentimental given Aston Villa’s form of late.

They have slumped to a precarious 15th on the table following back-to-back losses to Blackburn (2-0) and Arsenal (4-2), and are a mere three points above the relegation zone.

Aston Villa also fell to a 2-1 defeat at Birmingham City to exit the Carling Cup on Wednesday, amid rumours the manager has fallen out with a number of his players.

Then there is also Villa’s poor form on the road to consider, given Houllier’s men have not won away from Villa Park since defeating Wolverhampton in September.

But Villa defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield in last season’s corresponding fixture, and skipper Richard Dunne believes it is time for the Villans to get their season back on track.

“It has been a very disappointing season so far,” Dunne told the club’s official website.

“Things have to change because we can’t just keep saying we’re unlucky. We have to go out and put in performances on the pitch where, whether we are lucky or not, we have to win games.”

“Everything that can go wrong seems to be going wrong. Even in training people are getting injured or turning up sick. We’re just not having any luck at the moment.”

“We have to go away now and try to pick ourselves up for Monday. Hopefully this is the lowest point of our season and from here we can turn it around.”

“We had a good result at Anfield last year so it would be great to get a result to kick-start our season.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is still one week away from resuming club duties, while Hodgson will also be without defender Jamie Carragher after he dislocated his shoulder at Tottenham.

They join Daniel Agger and Jay Spearing on the sidelines.

Houllier has a number of injury concerns, and will not be able to call on the likes of Stiliyan Petrov, Emile Heskey, Nigel Reo-Coker, Marc Albrighton and Steve Sidwell.

Barry Bannan is in doubt with a groin injury and Ashley Young is suspended after picking up a fifth yellow card against Birmingham.