Bright start by the hosts, who nearly take a shock lead inside the first minute!

Anwar El Ghazi bundles his way into the penalty area before firing straight at Alisson. The Liverpool goalkeeper fails to hold on to the shot but the visitors manage to clear their lines.

The minute's silence was impeccably observed. We're under way at Villa Park!

Phil Dawkes
BBC Sport at Villa Park

One of the Villa mascots has just declared that he thinks the home side will win this game 100-0. Bless his youthful optimism.

Considering that Liverpool haven’t conceded more than twice in any of their last 33 away league games, since a 3-3 draw with Arsenal in December 2017, I suspect he might end up a tad disappointed.

The place is bouncing, though, thanks to them blasting out a bit of Hi-Ho Silver Lining.

The players are out! We're about to have a minute's silence ahead of Remembrance Day later this month.

Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Dean Smith on facing Jurgen Klopp for the first time: "I'm really looking forward to it.

"He’s probably a bit similar [to me], coming through lower league football into the Bundesliga with Mainz, as a player and as a coach. Then obviously [he was] successful at Dortmund and now at Liverpool.

"You can’t not be impressed with the job he’s done."

Image source, BBC Sport

Villa played all right against Manchester City last week, but still ended up being beaten 3-0.

I only see a Liverpool win.

The Reds deserved their victory over Tottenham last weekend, and it almost felt inevitable even when they were behind.

They wore Spurs down in the end, and they just seem to have this belief that they can come from any situation and rescue a result.

Prediction: 0-2

Lawro's full predictions v Tommy O'Dell from rock band DMA

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp on Aston Villa: "It’s a tough one. They’re obviously a very good team.

"Their start was pretty unlucky. I would say they performed pretty much from the beginning but didn’t get the results. Now they have quality and results as well.

"We have to be ready for that."

Liverpool

Image source, Getty Images

Jurgen Klopp on Trent Alexander-Arnold's 100th Liverpool appearance: "He’s young and already so experienced. It’s a wonderful story for different reasons. I know in Liverpool everybody is desperate to have a Scouse hero making his way through the first team.

"Alex said when he made his first appearance it’s not about having one game, it’s about getting 100. There weren’t a lot of bad ones in those 100 games.

"I hope he can stay healthy and stay fit, then the future’s bright, for him and for us. He’s a great role model and the way he deals with that role is sensational."

Phil Dawkes
BBC Sport at Villa Park

Even after it has been battered by wind and rain, Villa Park impresses.

League-leaders Liverpool are in town today for the Steve Staunton Derby. It is one of the fixtures that Villa fans will have missed during their two-year absence from the top-flight. It's probably no gauge by which to judge Villa's renewed suitability for the top-flight, but it does give them the opportunity to give the league's best side a bloody nose.

The Reds will be hoping to carry their current six-point advantage over Man City into next week's Mega Powers Explode at Anfield.

Image source, BBC Sport

Liverpool have won five successive league matches away to Villa - their best run in this fixture - scoring 13 goals and only conceding one.

Their 6-0 victory at Villa Park in the 191st and most recent encounter, in February 2016, is their record score against the Villans.

This season, thirteen of the 16 goals conceded by Villa have come after half-time.

They would be third in the table, and eight points better off, based on first-half scores.

Jonathan Pearce
BBC Match of the Day commentator

A dress rehearsal for the Carabao Cup quarter-final that may never happen.

The Reds are chasing their first title since 1990 when Villa pushed them close all the way to the last month.

All three clubs on 28 points by this stage have won the title. Liverpool should win this, especially if Villa fade in the second half in customary style.

Image source, BBC Sport

Captain Jack Grealish misses out for Aston Villa, who make one change to the side that started the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Premier League last weekend.

Grealish has failed to recover from the calf injury that kept him out of the Carabao Cup victory over Wolves in midweek. Anwar El Ghazi starts in place of the 24-year-old.

Aston Villa XI: Heaton; Guilbert, Engels, Mings, Targett; Trezeguet, Douglas Luiz, Nakamba, McGinn, El Ghazi; Wesley

Substitutes: Steer, Taylor, Lansbury, Hourihane, Konsa, Kodjia, El Mohamady

Image source, BBC Sport

Jurgen Klopp also makes one change to the Liverpool team that beat Tottenham 2-1 at Anfield, with Adam Lallana replacing Fabinho in midfield.

Trent Alexander-Arnold makes his 100th appearance for the club at Villa Park.

Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, van Dijk, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Lallana; Salah, Firmino, Mane

Substitutes: Adrian, Fabinho, Milner, Keita, Gomez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Origi