Good afternoon and Happy Easter from all TheScore. I’ve just polished off my third chocolate egg of the day so I’m all set to bring you updates on the Premier League meeting of Aston Villa, currently 18th in the table and seventh-placed Liverpool.

When the sides met at Anfield earlier this season, a certain Belgian striker stole the show…

YouTube credit: Omar AlHandoud

Here are the teams:

Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett, Sylla, Westwood, Bannan, Weimann, Benteke, Agbonlahor. Subs: Given, El Ahmadi, N’Zogbia, Delph, Bowery, Dawkins, Lichaj.

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Agger, Carragher, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Downing, Suarez. Subs: Jones, Sturridge, Coates, Suso, Sterling, Shelvey, Skrtel.

Ireland defender Ciaran Clark has picked up a shoulder injury and is replaced by Joe Bennett in the home side’s starting line-up. There’s no place for Daniel Sturridge in the Liverpool side, meanwhile, as Brendan Rodgers opts for Luis Suarez supported by Stuart Downing, Coutinho and Jordan Henderson with captain Steve Gerrard and Lucas Leiva likely to take up deeper roles.

The teams are out and Aston Villa are preparing to kick off so here we go. Lee Mason is today’s referee.

First decent chance and it falls to Villa. Joe Bennett puts in an inviting cross and Christian Benteke makes a dash to get the vital touch but just misses out on making contact and it’s flashes across Pepe Reina’s goal.

Stuart Downing’s every touch is being booed by the Villa faithful, presumably because he decided to leave the Midlanders for his current club. Shouldn’t they be happy with the £20m they received for the winger?

Luis Suarez gets his first sight at goal after wriggling into the opposing box but his attempted strike with the outside of his foot is far too high.

Steven Gerrard seeks out a team-mate with a cross but it’s put behind before the resulting corner is dealt with by the Villa defence. Then they earn one of their own when Weimann’s ball to the back post is headed out. Similarly, the set-piece comes to nothing.

Deary me, how has that stayed out?! A super ball is whipped in from Lowton on the right and Gabi Agbonlahor looks certain to score but the striker can’t quite believe it when the shot  from close range strikes Reina and comes back into play.

Has to score there.

Glen Johnson, in an advanced position, slots in Suarez but Brad Guzan makes a good stop from the Uruguayan.

We’re reached the 19-minute mark, meaning it’s time to pay tribute to former Villa captain Stiliyan Petrov, who has been battling leukaemia for the past year.

Coutinho feeds Suarez from space on the left but Baker tracks his marker and cuts out the danger before Agbonlahor has  another shot – this time firing wide of the mark.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-0 Liverpool (Christian Benteke)

Villa are in front! Agbonlahor controls a long ball from midfield with his knee and his strike partner comes onto the touch to belt past Reina with a first time drive. That’s his 18th of the season.

Liverpool attempt to respond immediately through Gerrard but his shot is blocked well by Baker.

Here’s the goal in question.

Credit: 101GreatGoals

Suarez very nearly finds the equaliser after a mistake from Barry Bannan but again Guzan makes the stop. Then Gerrarrd cracks one from 25 years before the US keeper bats away with a strong hand.

One for Belgium-loving stats fans:

Half-time: Aston Villa 1-0 Liverpool

Just the minute of added time played and we’ve reached the interval. Be right back in a tick.

The second half has just kicked off. No changes on either side.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool (Jordan Henderson)

We’ve only just returned and Liverpool are back level thanks to a great goal. Coutinho showed brilliant vision to pick out Jordan Henderson’s run through the middle and the midfielder showed composure to loft the ball over the onrushing Guzan.

Goal number 2…

Credit: 101GreatGoals

After that moment of brilliance from Coutinho, the Brazilian youngster has just missed an excellent opportunity to put Liverpool in front. Making a superb run to beat the offside trap, the former Inter Milan man puts his effort wide.

Glen Johnson then sees his strike crack off the post with Guzan beaten.

GOAL! Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool (Steve Gerrard)

More drama… Nathan Baker brings down Suarez, who is too quick for the defender, and referee Lee Mason points to the spot before the Reds captain dispatches the penalty.

After Weimann skies over from a terrific position, the Austrian is withdrawn along with Barry Bannan with Charles N’Zogbia and Fabian Delph joining the action.

Looked a stone wall penalty to me:

Credit: Feint Zebra

And here’s the goal:

Credit: Feint Zebra

The 32-year-old still brings so much to the team as this stat proves:

15 minutes to play and there are two substitutions to report – Yaouba Sylla is off for Karim El Ahmadi while Coutinho gets a great reception as he makes way for Raheem Sterling. Looking a sound buy in these early stages of his Liverpool career.

Exquisite from Suarez to go by a couple of defender and Guzan. The ball gets stuck under his feet a little, however, and it allows the Villa stopper to get back onto his feet and catch an attempted chip.

A considerable amount of Villa fans have seen enough and are laving the ground as the clock reaches 90 minutes. They’ll play 3 minutes of added time but Villa don’t look like even creating a chance at the moment.

As I write that, Benteke has put the ball into the back of the net… but he’s rightly ruled offside.

Full-time: Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool

So Liverpool remain in seventh but close the gap on city rivals Everton to three points, although the Toffees have a game in hand. Villa still find themselves in the relegation zone on level points with Wigan but behind on goal difference.

That’s me done, thanks for the company.