Liverpool Pre-Villa Team News & Injury Update: Latest On Carragher, Reina & More…

Premier League action returns this weekend after the two week international break and Liverpool travel to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa on Sunday lunchtime.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has been in front of the media on Friday afternoon to give his pre-match press conference and gave Liverpoolfc.com a team  news and injury update with the latest on Pepe Reina, Jamie Carragher, Lucas Leiva, Martin Kelly and Joe Allen.

Rodgers confirmed that he has no fresh injury problems to contend with following the international break and revealed that midfielder Allen’s shoulder surgery was a success, but the Welshman is still set to miss the remainder of the season as he works his way back to full fitness.

Defender Kelly has also been on the sidelines for a while but there is a slight chance he may return before the season is out with Rodgers claiming he’s due back in training at the start of May.

“Everyone has returned fit and ready.

“A lot of the players who have been on international duty have come back and the medical team has looked at them and everyone is fine.

“There are a couple of little niggles here and there but nothing that’s going to keep anyone out.

“Joe has had his operation and it went well. It’s interesting because when it was looked at, the surgeon said that if you touched it with your thumb you would have broken the shoulder.

“So that just shows you how flimsy it was and also how much pain he was in for a period of time. But thankfully that went well and he has started his rehabilitation.

“It will unfortunately keep him out for the rest of the season.

“Martin Kelly may well be back towards the beginning of May but that will be to join training. I’m not sure if he’s going to be available to play this season.

“The feeling with him and Fabio was that they would probably miss a big part of the season.”

Rodgers also confirmed that goalkeeper Reina, defender Carragher and midfielder Leiva are back in training and available for the Villa game after missing the defeat to Southampton before the international break.

“Pepe Reina and Jamie Carragher are back in training. Lucas Leiva couldn’t start against Southampton because he had an injury – he didn’t train a lot of the week.

“But everyone is fighting fit and fresh and we’re really looking forward to the weekend.” Rodgers added

Now we’ve seen the team news, what would be your preferred starting eleven for the Villa clash? Leave your suggests in the comments section below.