ASTON VILLA MATCH PREVIEW

Villa Park - Sunday, 24 August
Kick-off: 1400 BST
Referee: Paul Durkin (Portland)

BIG-MATCH FACTS

ASTON VILLA take on Liverpool in their first home game of the season for the second year running.

New manager David O'Leary will be keen to get off the mark in this early Sunday afternoon clash following last Saturday's 2-1 loss to newly promoted Portsmouth when skipper Gareth Barry earned the unenviable distinction of being shown the first red card of the 2003/4 Premiership season.

Villa have not taken maximum points off the Reds at home since a 2-1 victory on 28 February 1998. They have also not won their first home game of the League season for three years. The last victorious Villa Park seasonal starter was 3-0 against Everton on 11 August 1999.

LIVERPOOL travel in search of a fourth successive Premier League away victory over the "Claret and Blues", and a fifth win in six visits to extend their unbeaten record at Villa Park to half a dozen.

Last season's 1-0 success set in motion a 12 match unbeaten start. But the Merseysiders immediately then hit the wall with an uncharacteristic 11 match winless string.

Gerard Houllier's season got off to a disappointing start with Sunday's 1-2 defeat by big spending Chelsea. If they are to clinch a first ever Premiership title and add to their record 18 English League Championships, the last of which was won in 1989-90, they will need to quickly halt a trend that sees them in danger of suffering a fourth successive defeat.

SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM

ASTON VILLA
PL last season: 16th 45 points
PL this season: 14th 0 points

Lost last two Premiership matches against Leeds (a) and Portsmouth (a).
Won last two League encounters at home against Chelsea and Sunderland.
Scored one goal in each of last five outings (all Premiership).
Managed one clean sheet in 13 League matches.

LIVERPOOL
PL last season: 5th 64 points
PL this season: 16th 0 points

Lost last three Premiership matches, all by a 2-1 margin, against Manchester City (h), Chelsea (a) and Chelsea (h).
Last victory was 0-6 at relegated West Brom on 26 April.

POTENTIAL CAREER MILESTONES

ASTON VILLA

If on the field at kick off, Peter CROUCH will be making his 100th club career start.
If involved from the opening whistle, Mustapha HADJI will be making his 100th start for an English club.
If he plays, Steve STAUNTON will be facing his former club.

LIVERPOOL

Emile HESKEY is a double strike away from 50 goals for Liverpool.
Danny MURPHY needs a brace to register 50 career League goals.

LAST SEASON'S CORRESPONDING GAME:
Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool
18 August 2002 - Liverpool scorer: Riise 47

HEAD TO HEAD TOTALS
League: A Villa 51 wins, Liverpool 72, Draws 33
Prem: A Villa 8 wins, Liverpool 11, Draws 3

HEAD TO HEAD at Aston Villa
League: A Villa 37 wins, Liverpool 24, Draws 17
Prem: A Villa 5 wins, Liverpool 5, Draws 1

Information from BBCi.