Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri has been ruled out for his side's clash against Aston Villa this afternoon, after the Swiss international picked up a thigh strain in his side's 2-1 victory over Bournemouth last week.

Mame Biram Diouf has been named to start up front for the visitors in place of Shaqiri, while Jonathan Walters moves to the wing.

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood has made two changes for today's match, as his side switch to a five-man defence following a run of six Premier League matches without a win.

Defender Jose Angel Crespo comes into the side, while midfielder Jordan Veretout has also been named to start.

Midfielders Jack Grealish and Carlos Sanchez have been dropped from the side that was defeated 3-2 by Liverpool last Saturday.

Aston Villa: Guzan; Hutton, Richards, Lescott, Crespo, Amavi; Veretout, Gueye, Westwood; Gestede, Sinclair
Subs: Bunn, Bacuna, Richardson, Ayew, Sanchez, Gil, Grealish

Stoke City: Butland; Johnson, Cameron, Wollscheid, Pieters; Whelan, Adam; Walters, Bojan, Arnautovic; Diouf
Subs: Given, Muniesa, Ireland, Joselu, Afellay, Van Ginkel, Crouch

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