24 hours ago, a major question mark loomed over whether we would be even seeing this game following a major Covid-19 outbreak amid the hosts' ranks. The match is on - but it will look different even by pandemic standards.
Gone are the first-team faces who helped Dean Smith's side to a seismic 7-2 rout in October - as indeed, is Smith. In fact, with 14 positive cases and likely more to come, it's effectively an under-23s side led by their coach Mark Delaney.
Jurgen Klopp on the other hand - smarting, no doubt, from that blow to his side's title defence against Southampton on Monday - is able to call upon a clutch of big names, though it still doesn't truly solve his mounting centre-back injury problem.
It is seven under-23 players and four under-18 players for Villa then, the vast majority of them getting a first taste of senior action. Liverpool meanwhile have refused to go easy given the circumstances: Mohamed Salah, Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane start.
ASTON VILLA (4-5-1): Akos Onodi; Jake Walker, Sebastian Revan, Mungo Bridge, Teddy Rowe; Kaine Kesler Hayden, Lamare Bogarde, Mamadou Sylla, Arjan Raikhy, Ben Chrisene; Louie Barry.
Subs: Oliwier Zych, Taylor-Jay Hart, Harrison Sohna, Michael Tait, Callum Rowe, Bradley Young, Sil Swinkels, Frankie Ealing, Hayden Lindley.
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Caoimhin Kelleher; Neco Williams, Rhys Williams, Fabinho, James Milner; Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Curtis Jones; Sadio Mane, Takumi Minamino, Mohamed Salah.
Subs: Alisson, Thiago Alcantara, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xherdan Shaqiri, Andy Robertson, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Phillips, Trent Alexander-Arnold.
There is a perverse reverse to this game of course; just over a year ago, a senior Aston Villa team ran riot in the Carabao Cup against a second-string Liverpool whose best players were at the FIFA Club World Cup. How time flies.
One man who will be feeling the years today? James Milner. There are four players in Villa's starting XI tonight who were yet to be born when he made his debut for Leeds United in 2002.
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