Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE: Stream FREE, TV channel, team news as Fabinho STARTS in defence for Reds – latest updates

LIVERPOOL XI

As expected, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has made numerous changes to his starting line-up and included various youngsters.

Klopp seems to have opted for a usual 4-3-3 formation with Caoimhin Kelleher between the sticks.

Neco Williams will be at right-back whereas James Milner will start on the other side while Fabinho and Rhys Williams team up at centre-back.

Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum and Curtis Jones will feature in midfield.

Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Takumi Minamino will lead the attack up front

THE TEAM SHEETS ARE IN!!!

COVID CRISIS

As mentioned below, all of Aston Villa’s first-team squad and staff are currently isolating after returning a total of 14 positive coronavirus test results between them.

That means under-23s coach Mark Delaney will be taking Dean Smith’s place in the dugout with a team comprised of under-23s and under-18s.

There is still no information about any concrete plans but this is set to be a highly unfamiliar side for Villa.

Filip Marshall could start in goal with Kaine Kesler, Dominic Revan, Mungo Bridge and Ben Chrisene in defence.

Yacouba Sylla, Myles Sohna and Arjan Raikhy may feature in midfield with Michael Tait, Bradley Young and former Barcelona academy member Louie Barry leading the attack

GOOD EVENING FROM VILLA PARK

Welcome to our live coverage of the FA Cup clash between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park.

It was decided that the third-round tie between the two Premier League teams will go ahead even though nine players and five staff members from Villa returned positive coronavirus test results.

Thus, the hosts’ entire first-team squad and staff have been forced into isolation but testing on reserves provided enough negative results for the club to field a team.

Under-23s coach Mark Delaney will be filling in for senior manager Dean Smith and will be fielding a team made up of under-23s and under-18s against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

This unfortunate event could lead to Reds boss Jurgen Klopp adjusting his side and fielding young players of his own, like Neco Williams, Curtis Jones and Caoimhin Kelleher.

Of course, Klopp will be without Kostas Tsimikas (knee), Diogo Jota (knee), Joel Matip (adductor strain), Naby Keita (muscle), Joe Gomez (patella) and Virgil van Dijk (ACL) as they are all still recovering from injury.

Liverpool’s line-up is set to exclude some big stars, such as Alisson, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, ahead of next Sunday’s crunch Premier League clash against rivals Manchester United at Anfield.