Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of tonight's Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park. Before we get down to business, we've got some team news for you...

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet; Johnson, Toure, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho; Aspas, Sturridge

LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Alberto, Cissokho, Allen, Borini, Sterling, Wisdom

Brendan Rodgers has decided to stick with the same side that beat Stoke City last weekend, while new loan signing Aly Cissokho makes the bench for the Merseysiders.

ASTON VILLA: Guzan; Lowton, Vlaar, Okore, Luna; Bacuna, Westwood, Agbonlahor, Delph; Benteke, Weimann

ASTON VILLA SUBS: Steer, Clark, El Ahmadi, Helenius, Herd, Sylla, Tonev

While Liverpool have made no changes, there are two new faces in the Villa starting XI as Jores Okore and Leandro Bacuna replace Karim El Ahmadi and Ciaran Clark

So, what should we expect from today's game? Liverpool are sure to be in buoyant mood following their opening-day win over Stoke City, but they come up against a Villa side who have impressed during their first two matches. However, there are question marks over the fitness of Paul Lambert's side considering that this will be their third fixture in a week.

One thing that you can expect from Villa though is a desire to put things right after their defeat to Chelsea on Wednesday. The Midlands club were on the wrong end of some poor refereeing decisions at Stamford Bridge as they went down 2-1.

We've got a few full-time results from today's other Premier League games coming through, so hold on and we'll bring them to you as soon as we can.

There was also an early match in the Premier League today which saw Arsenal earn a 3-1 win at Fulham.

With all of those results in, Villa and Liverpool come into the match knowing that a big win would put them at the top of the table. It's only early in the season but sitting at the top of the pile is sure to be a big confidence booster.

A quick trawl through the history book would suggest that this is a fixture that could go either way. Both teams have enjoyed wins against the other in recent years, the last one being a 2-1 victory for Liverpool back in March. The Reds have come out on top in five of the last 10 meetings, but Villa have picked up three wins, with the spoils shared on the other two occasions.

There also tends to be a fair few goals flying about when these two play, something which wouldn't go amiss today considering some sparse results in the other Premier League matches.

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Right, with a little under 10 minutes until this one gets underway it's time to make a prediction. I'm anticipating an entertaining match this evening with plenty of action at either end. However, Liverpool will be fresher and that could make all of the difference.

While there has been plenty of rain in the south of England today, it's a gloriously sunny evening at Villa Park as they players line up in the tunnel.

The players are out, all of the pre-match rituals have been done, and it will be Aston Villa to get us underway. Game on!

It's been a fairly frantic start to this one, with Villa doing most of the pressing. However, the visitors create the first chance as Aspas' cross is gathered by Guzan.

Something of a half-chance for Villa at the other end as Agbonlahor's shot takes a deflection and loops into the grateful hands of Mignolet. The winger is looking dangerous and full of confidence early on.

The visitors are starting to enjoy a decent spell of possession now. Johnson makes a run forward, but the full-back has hit shot blocked by Agbonlahor on the edge of the box.

Disappointing from Sturridge as the Liverpool striker allows the ball to run away from him in the Villa box before Luna earns the home side a goal kick. It's all very even at the moment.

A nervy moment in the Villa penalty area sees Henderson go to attack Enrique's cross, but the home defence holds firm to deal with the danger. Now it's the Merseysiders who are looking more threatening.

We haven't seen a great deal from Benteke so far. The Belgian striker scored three times against Liverpool last season but hasn't had a sniff yet.

WIDE! Enrique does well down the left to shake off his marker before teeing up Coutinho. However, the Brazilian curls his effort high and wide from the edge of the box.

Villa are really struggling to get hold of the ball at the moment. Whenever they do, they are hustled out of it quickly by Liverpool. It's causing the home fans some disgruntlement.

Liverpool lead and it's Daniel Sturridge with his second goal in as many games. The striker picked up the ball following Coutinho's dummy before taking it around Guzan and prodding the ball in from a tight angle with two defenders on the line. What a great finish!

BOOKING: Antonio Luna is the first player to pick up a yellow card this evening for a late challenge on Henderson.

Liverpool go in search of a second goal and they nearly get it when Sturridge tries to pick out Henderson, but Guzan is quick off his line to gather the ball. The Merseysiders are looking just that bit sharper right now.

The visitors are dominating the midfield at the moment. Villa are allowing them so much time on the ball, and when you've got players like Steven Gerrard and Philippe Coutinho then anything can happen. Meanwhile, Aspas goes into the book for a trip on Delph.

Exasperated groans from the crowd accompany any loss of possession from Villa as Liverpool continue to look comfortable on the ball. Henderson is the latest player to ask questions of the home defence as his cross is collected by Guzan.

Yet more frustration from the Villa fans as Benteke fails to control the ball in the Liverpool penalty area.

Villa want a free kick on the edge of the area when Agger blocks Benteke's run, but the referee waves play on.

BOOKING: Delph is the latest player to go into the the book as the Villa midfielder has a nibble at the ankles of Sturridge.

SAVE! Nearly an equaliser out of nowhere for Villa! Benteke works himself some space in the box before trying to curl the ball beyond Mignolet, but the Reds goalkeeper does well to push it around the post. Villa get a corner, though it comes to nothing.

CLOSE! The home side have suddenly come alive as this first half comes to a close. Weimann has a crack from the edge of the box that gets deflected over for a corner. However, Villa again fail to make anything from the set-piece.

Two minutes of added time at the end of the half...

BOOKING: Another yellow card as Johnson chops down Benteke out on the left wing.

The half-time whistle goes and Liverpool have a 1-0 lead over Aston Villa at Villa Park. Daniel Sturridge got the goal as the visitors go in at the break deservedly ahead.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers will be happy with what he saw during that 45 minutes, but Villa manager Paul Lambert is likely to be giving his players some choice words right about now. The visitors dominated that half, controlling the midfield while looking dangerous in attack. As far as Villa are concerned, the only time that they really provided their opponents with a threat was in the final five minutes.

Liverpool get the second half underway, with neither side having made any changes during the break. Can Villa force their way back into this?

Early sniff of goal for the hosts as Weimann tries to pick out Delph, but Toure is there to clear the danger. The Ivorian has looked very solid again for Liverpool today.

Villa have enjoyed a promising start to this second half. They've looked more purposeful going forward, but keeping possession remains to be a problem.

CHANCE! Liverpool threaten at the other end as Sturridge's cross is cut out by Vlaar. The Reds get a corner for their troubles but fail to make anything of it.

Villa get a free kick in a dangerous position which Bacuna smashes into the wall. Lowton steams in for the follow up which flies over the crossbar. There's a bit more bounce from the home fans now.

This is turning out to be a much more even contest now. Both sides are battling hard in midfield, with some tasty challenges thrown in for good measure. Villa have a chance in the form of Westwood's long-range strike, but the ball sails high and wide.

BOOKING: Lowton picks up a yellow card as Lowton clatters into the back of Coutinho.

Oh dear. Johnson's eyes light up as he gets a sight of goal from the edge of the box, but the angle is too tight as the full-back slices the ball way off target.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa make the first change of the evening as Matthew Lowton is replaces by Karim El Ahmadi.

CHANCE! The substitute nearly makes an instant impact with a shot from the edge of the area, but it gets blocked by the Liverpool defender.

SUBSTITUTION: It's Liverpool's turn to make a change now, with Aly Cissokho coming on for his debut. He replaces Iago Aspas.

CHANCE! Villa come close through Benteke, who shrugs off Toure from a corner before heading wide. Those two haven't had as big a tussle as you might expect this afternoon, but it's still been good fun when they have battled for the ball.

SUBSTITUTION: Villa make their second swap of the match as Andreas Weimann comes off for Aleksandar Tonev.

CHANCE! Villa are creating plenty of opportunities now and this could be there best one. Bacuna pumps a hopeful ball into the area, which eventually falls to Agbonlahor. The winger swipes at it first time on the volley, but it goes inches wide.

This is easily Villa's best spell of the match. They're pinning Liverpool back and putting on the pressure. Their latest opening falls for Tonev, whose tame drive from 20 yards is held by Mignolet.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Villa make their final change as Nicklas Helenius replaces Ashley Westwood, while Liverpool also freshen things up with the introduction of Joe Allen for Philippe Coutinho.

SAVE! Wonderful save from Mignolet to deny Benteke! The Villa striker lashes the ball at goal from inside the box, but his fellow Belgian is there to push the effort away.

BOOKING: Another yellow card now as Lucas goes into the book for a clumsy challenge on Agbonlahor.

There will be three minutes of added time for Villa to try to nick a point. Can they do it?

Tonev whips in a dangerous cross, but there's no one there to meet it. One minute remaining.

The full-time whistle goes and Liverpool have two wins from their first two matches thanks to a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. It wasn't all smooth sailing for the visitors, but Daniel Sturridge's goal was enough to give them the points. Meanwhile, Villa now have two defeats and one win from their first three games.

Anyway, that's all from me for now. Thank you very much for your company this evening, but don't forget that you can keep up to date with all of the reaction from today's Premier League matches right here on Sports Mole. Take care and goodnight!