O'Neill playing for keeps

Martin O’Neill’s lack of goalkeeping options for the opening fixture of the campaign means academy prospect David Bevan will be on the bench for the clash against Liverpool tomorrow.

Stuart Taylor will be between the posts against Rafael Benitez’s side as last season’s number one Thomas Sorensen is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

England Under-21 skipper Nigel Reo-Coker is set to make his competitive debut following his £8.5m move from West Ham but the other summer capture from Upton Park, striker Marlon Harewood, is expected to be among the substitutes.

John Carew should recover from a groin injury and is likely to partner Gabriel Agbonlahor in attack.

Aston Villa (from): Taylor, Bevan, Gardner, Cahill, Mellberg, Laursen, Bouma, Reo-Coker, Young, Petrov, Barry, Berger, Maloney, Osbourne, Carew, Agbonlahor, Moore, Harewood.