Watch Liverpool vs Aston Villa in live streaming on January 18, 2014

January 18, 2014 By Samrin Hasib

Topics: Liverpool, Aston Villa, English Premier League, Live Stream, TV Schedules, Live Scores

Aston Villa almost forced a point out of a match they really lost in the first half last week; can they earn what would be a famous victory this weekend?

Preview: Can Liverpool add yet another win to their repertoire and stay in the title race?

Liverpool allowed a two goal lead to disappear into thin air against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium last weekend. However, they showed enough mental strength to earn their lead back and eventually secure a 3-5 victory. Aston Villa showed plenty of grit in their showing too. Unfortunately for them, their spirited fight back against the leaders Arsenal was not enough to earn them a point.

The Gunners struck twice within one minute in the first half; in the second half, they seemed rather laid back as they focused their attention to closing out the game. Villa had other ideas and pounced on Arsenal’s lackadaisical second half showing. When Christian Benteke scored, the Gunners seemed unsure. Villa attacked with vigor and could have scored another but the leaders held out. If anything, the display definitely brought the best out of their fans.

This weekend, Paul Lambert will have a former player at his disposal in the tricky and experienced Grant Holt. Holt arrives on loan to cover for the absence of Libor Kozak. He has also taken on a defender who was once thrust into the spotlight in a UEFA Champions League Final, Ryan Bertrand, on loan from Chelsea. Chris Herd, Nathan Baker, Jores Okore and Charles N’Zogbia will not be available for selection due to injury.

Lambert has recently come under fire due to his team’s poor form. They have collected a measly four points from their previous five matches. The coach however is standing his ground as Sky Sports found out:

“I used to walk the streets of Glasgow (as a Celtic player) at times and... well, if you can handle Glasgow (the fans of Rangers) then you can handle a lot of places.

Criticism is part of the game. You take it on the chin and you try and move on and learn from it. You stay level, which is important.”

Lambert’s opposite number, Brendan Rodgers, will be without Daniel Agger, Jon Flannagan, Jose Enrique and Sebastian Coates. The back line of course is suffering greatly as a result of these injuries. Daniel Sturridge might start this one after showing that he has indeed returned fully fit from injury. Mamadou Sakho is doubtful for the Merseyside team. Rodgers had only good things to say about his title challenging side as noted by Sky Sports:

"It was a wonderful demonstration (against Stoke) of mental endurance. I am sure people sat at home at half-time were thinking 'this is a true test' but in the second half we demonstrated emphatically how our game is improving on the pitch - but equally important was the mental personality and fitness.

I look at it as a game similar to the one at Tottenham (a 5-0 win), a game which sets up a standard for us.”

Will Liverpool be able to win this game? Or will Aston Villa pull off an unlikely victory just as they did in their last trip to Anfield?