Football betting: Premier League - Liverpool vs Aston Villa

The pressure is on at Liverpool. Aston Villa come to visit on Monday night looking to close the gap on Rafa Benitez's side and with outside and inside forces destabilising the famous Merseyside club there probably isn't a better time to visit Anfield. Click here for a free Paddy Power Poker $600 welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker Villa are a generous 5/1 to plunge the knife deeper into Benitez by sealing a first win at Liverpool in seven years and, after reeling off three wins from their last four matches, confidence, much like Martin O'Neil's seventh-placed outfit, is soaring. The in-form John Carew brings all-important experience and strength to a side rich in youth and pace. While Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor provide the latter in abundance the big Norwegian has started to provide the cutting edge up front scoring three goals in his last five games. And the former Valencia man will certainly will fancy his 8/1 odds of scoring first against an uncharacteristically creaky Reds rearguard. Liverpool have missed Daniel Agger this season and can only hope that the arrival of Martin Skrtel in the January transfer window proves to be anywhere like as astute a purchase. Liverpool cannot contemplate the prospect of a home defeat, given the way the wheels are starting to come off their season with all the aplomb of a 777 at Heathrow. Quite apart from the public gaffes by their American owners and all the Arab takeover talk, the fact of the matter is that Liverpool suddenly find themselves lying sixth with their customary fourth-place slot impudently wrenched from them by none other than Everton this weekend. Liverpool have two games in hand over their great rivals but defeat will leave them three points adrift of both the Toffees and Villa. Before the 5-0 thrashing of Luton (which doesn't even count because the Hatters had sold half of their players) Liverpool had drawn each of their four previous matches against Luton, Middlesbrough, Wigan and Man City, three of which finished 1-1. Anfield is no longer a fortress - the Reds are 13th in the home form league - and given their current plight Benitez's side will probably settle for another 1-1 draw, which is the recommended punt at 11/2. Verdict: 2 pts Liverpool v Villa 1-1 at 11/2 (Paddy Power); 1pt Carew first goalscorer @ 8/1 Click here for a free Paddy Power Poker $600 welcome bonus when you join Paddy Power Poker