A trip to Liverpool, a video and some facts

So, it's a special day for the manager as he goes back to his one and only Club, but that's really it. He's going there to win and win for us and everyone of the supporters in the stadium know this and everyone of them respect him for that. Possibly even more than they did.

I get why there is so much talk about this and I'm sure it will be nice for Gerrard to go back and feel the love, but I'm also fairly confident that he is going to get the players ready for today in the right way and I think he is more interested in winning stuff with Aston Villa than ever managing Liverpool.

Aston Villa is now his Club and he's put all his eggs into this basket. And as I wrote when he joined, if that happens, it's going to be very hard for him to leave.

And with all that written, it is only just a football match and if we can play for 90 minutes like we did against Manchester City for 45 minutes, we have a chance. I'll be back later watching and drinking a very nice red wine. So until then, enjoy your Saturday. I'm going skiing.

Video of the day

Match facts from the BBC

Head-to-head

• Liverpool have won six of the past seven Premier League meetings, scoring at least twice in all seven matches.
• Villa have lost their last three league games at Anfield, most recently due to Trent Alexander-Arnold's stoppage-time goal in April.
• There were 17 goals in the three encounters between the sides last season.

Liverpool

• Liverpool have earned four consecutive Premier League victories and are the only side still unbeaten at home in the top flight this season.
• They have scored in 25 successive Premier League games.
• Mo Salah scored in all three appearances against Aston Villa last season.
• Salah has been directly involved in 22 league goals this season, a Premier League record after 15 matches. He has 13 goals and nine assists.
• Sadio Mane has scored eight goals in eight matches against Villa in all competitions, including the fastest hat-trick in Premier League history.

Aston Villa

• Villa have won three of their four Premier League games under Steven Gerrard, as many as they had in 11 attempts under Dean Smith this season.
• Only Southampton have lost more Premier League matches in 2021 than Villa's tally of 19.
• Aston Villa have scored a league-high 10 goals from a set-piece situation this season.
• Ollie Watkins scored in both of Villa's Premier League games against Liverpool last season, including a hat-trick at Villa Park.