Aston Villa v Liverpool team news & stats

Klopp does not think a strike trio of Origi, Benteke and Sturridge can work in the Premier League, but he does believe the former Villa man and the England worldwide can make a good attacking pair, per the Liverpool Echo: “It was a risky formation to have Christian, Daniel and Divock together”.

Jurgen Klopp has revealed his discontent with striker Christian Benteke and insisted that the hitman must improve his approach if he is to end his barren streak.

Since he scored in back-to-back games over Christmas, Liverpool have only taken five points from a possible 18 in the Barclays Premier League.Klopp accepts there are likely to be more bad days before he gets the blend he wants. “A few players had a lot of games, maybe too much, a few players had injuries and it is completely normal they don’t come back in the best shape”, he told reporters.

‘I saw really good signs against West Ham.

“I talked to him, a few times, gave him some advice as a human being, as a coach”.

Victory at home to Norwich last time revitalised Villa’s fading hopes of Premier League survival as they aim to secure successive wins for the first time this season on Sunday.

Garde said: “When you play for a new team it is always hard to settle in”.

“Strikers who do not score goals for a longer period, it is more interesting than if someone else does not score enough”.

‘I am not David Copperfield – it is not about making things change and everything is OK, ‘ said Klopp. “We have to wait a little bit for him”, Klopp disclosed. I’m sure they’ll have a massive impact for us next year and it’ll be like having two new signings again.

If he is fit, what is the point of holding him back?

But Klopp said while he is there to encourage and push the striker, it is ultimately up to Benteke to start putting the ball in the back of the net.

“After West Ham he was still in rehab, but yesterday he trained normal so he is available”.

Midfielder Joe Allen will miss out with a hamstring injury. “I’m really fine with it and I think it’s a good thing”.

He bagged a brace when Villa narrowly lost 3-2 at Anfield earlier this season, with his physical presence proving a tough task for Liverpool’s defence to deal with, especially given their vulnerability to crosses and corners.