Aston Villa vs Liverpool Preview

BK's Sports

With the weekend games over and done the two teams playing on Monday are Aston Villa vs Liverpool. Both of the teams are in need of points and three points would help out the number 12 team Liverpool as well as the 16th place team Aston Villa.

Some of the weekend games turned out well for the middle of the pack teams. Chelsea let in a late goal against Everton and tied the game at 1-1. Wigan Athletic and Stoke City tied at 2-2. Birmingham also scored a late goal against Tottenham Spurs with an end result of 1-1. Bolton wasn't able to score a against Manchester United as the Red Devils won 1-0. Arsenal took the lead in points with a 2-1 win over Fulham.

The Reds are 13 points off the Premier leader, which is now Arsenal. It will be a tough game for Liverpool as they are having a disappointing season. Steven Gerrard is making progress with his hamstring but will miss Mondays match. Roy Hodgson is not making a good impression on the fans. His calls and signings are turning out to be questionable.

They have played a total of 15 games with five wins, six losses and 4 draws. One of those losses was to Tottenham last week when they blew a 1-0 lead. They dodged a bullet when Defoe missed a PK left. Then the goal scorer Skrtel scored an own goal. Aaron Lennon late in the game made a great play on the ball and put it past Pepe Reina to finalize the game at 2-1.

Now rumors are out that the new signing of Milan Jovanovic wants to leave in the January transfer period. The main move Liverpool needs is another striker or a midfielder with good vision.

Fernando Torres has five goals on the season and is now in top shape. His injuries and fitness has been holding him back earlier in the season. Him and Gerrard always have good chemistry but his injury is going to hurt the Reds. James Carragher will be out for the match and his substitute is Sotirios Kyrgiakos.

Aston Villa has fallen off the news feed as they themselves are having a not so good season with only 17 points, only two behind their opponent. There record is four wins, six losses and five draws. There last premier game was against Arsenal as they lost 4-2.

The big talk about Aston Villa is Michael Owen. Villa's manager Gerard Houllier wants Owen to transfer in January. Houllier was actually Liverpool's manager in 1998 to 2004 and Michael Owen was on the squad. The pair could be reunited.

Stewart Downing leads the team with four goals while Ashley Young leads the team with four assists. Aston Villa misses there winger James Milner that is on Manchester City.

The game is on ESPN 2 at 3pm ET.

I think Liverpool will come out on top this game with a 2-1 victory.