Villa's Barry set to face Liverpool

Gareth Barry is poised to line up in the Aston Villa midfield in Sunday’s home clash with Liverpool – the club he looked set to join for most of the summer.

The England player had his heart set on a move to Anfield but the deal collapsed after the Reds failed to meet Villa’s £18m valuation of the 27-year-old.

Villa boss Martin O’Neill had the luxury of being able to rest several of his key players for the midweek UEFA Cup clash with FH Hafnarfjordur.

The likes of Ashley Young, John Carew, Martin Laursen, Stiliyan Petrov, Luke Young and Nicky Shorey could all return.

Recent signing Carlos Cuellar has started training after a calf injury and may play some part.

Team (from): Friedel, L Young, Laursen, Cuellar, Davies, Shorey, Reo-Coker, Barry, Petrov, A Young, Agbonlahor, Carew, Taylor, Knight, Harewood, Salifou, Routledge, Gardner, Osbourne, Delfouneso.