Villa missing front two for Liverpool clash

Aston Villa are without both frontline strikers after Darren Bent was ruled out of today's home Barclays Premier League with Liverpool with a thigh injury.

Strike partner Gabriel Agbonlahor misses out through suspension after incurring five bookings, leading to Villa boss Alex McLeish fielding a new-look attack in former Liverpool player Emile Heskey and Nathan Delfouneso.

Midfielder Fabian Delph replaces ankle injury-victim Chris Herd.

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish makes two changes, with striker Craig Bellamy and Jonjo Shelvey coming into the starting line-up for Dirk Kuyt and Maxi Rodriguez.

Former Villa winger Stewart Downing retaines his place.

Aston Villa: Guzan, Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock, Albrighton, Delph, Petrov, N’Zogbia, Heskey, Delfouneso.

Subs: Marshall, Clark, Cuellar, Bannan, Weimann, Johnson, Burke.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Bellamy, Adam, Shelvey, Henderson, Downing, Suarez.

Subs: Doni, Carroll, Maxi, Coates, Kuyt, Carragher, Kelly.

Referee: Peter Walton.