Liverpool Vs Aston Villa Sunday 22/3/09

The powerful Norwegian is finally back. After 2 substitute appearances, he is deemed to be properly fit by Martin O'Neill.

With him back in the mix, Aston Villa will be more ready to meet an in form Liverpool side which had humilliated Manchester United earlier with a 4-1 thrashing and an 8-1 aggregate thrashing of Real Madrid.

News of Benitez 5 year contract extension also booast the morale of an in form Liverpool squad.

Villa faces a huge challenge from Liverpool on Sunday.

However Martin O'Neill is optimistic of his chances having his top striker John Carew back in the fold. The Villa attack had lack potency early this year with drop in form of strikers Gabby and Heskey.

Martin says,"The great thing about it is that John Carew now is getting really properly fit," O'Neill was quoted as saying on Sky Sports News. "He played nearly a full game up at Everton.

"Now, in the little training sessions that he has been doing recently, he has been really sharp. He is really raring to go, which is great.

"The two goals he has got after coming on as a substitute will also have given him a big boost of confidence.

"It is great to see him back when, in actual fact, you probably thought that it might have been really hard work coming back from the injury.

"John coming back and firing and going well with confidence high is great. I think that will be a major boost to us."

James Milner wants to play central midfield

James Milner had expressed his desire for a position in central midfield. He says,

“I’ve played there before. I played there a few times for England Under-21s, Newcastle and Leeds,”

“When we might have had injuries I’ve filled in there. I don’t see that as too much of a problem. I grew up playing there quite a lot, so I enjoy the centre midfield role. You seem to be able to get involved in games more sometimes, whereas playing wide you might not be able to get yourself into the game.”

“It’s very tough [playing wide], you have to keep your discipline and stay wide, keep your shape and give the team an outlet when you might not be getting the ball, and you’ve got to wait for people to bring you in, in the middle you can get it yourself and really take the game by the scruff of the neck.”

Central midfield is not for everyone. David Beckham had tried but had little success in the centre. But he is just one person who tried the central position and failed. Being able to perform largely depends whether the individual have a good footballing brain and good ball skills. But some people are just better sprinting down the flanks and sending in the balls to centre forwards...

Good luck James. At least you show your passion for football and Villa

1-1 draw. Sunderland Vs Tottenham

An 89th minute equaliser robbed Black Cats of 2 points. An equal share of the spoils as Tottenham secured a 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light. Sbragia was rightly dissapointed with the points dropped and blamed the outcome a result of his player's ill discipline.

Sbragia said: "Eighty-nine minutes, we were 1-0 up and it was the same old story. We got carried away and we start losing our discipline. We should take a short corner kick and try to see out a little bit of time or try to work it a little bit better.

"The left-back [McCartney] is in the box for some reason - I don't know why he is there, but he's there, and that's where the goal has come from, at the end of the day. I can't understand that."

Richardson was booked for the 10th time this season and will miss 2 games.

"Kieran was running around like a chicken with no head trying to get himself booked for some reason, and we became undisciplined.

"He continued getting involved with the referee, he continued trying to make silly tackles and picked up his 10th booking, so that didn't please me.

"And definitely without any doubt, the late goal didn't please me."

Aston Villa Vs CSK Moscow UEFA tie preview

Villa take on CSKA Moscow at Villa Park on Wednesday. (1st leg)

1.The Russians have not played competitively since November so they may not be so fit compared to Villa.

2.CSKA has have Brazilian world cup winner Zico taking over Valeri Gazzaev to coach the club. The players will need some time to build an understanding with the new coach.

3.Villa will welcome back Gareth Barry in place of the suspended Steve Sidwell who is suspended for this game.

4.Emile Heskey is still nursing an Achilles tendon injury, meaning John Carew gets another chance to prove himself up front.

5.Curtis Davies and James Milner should also start after recovering from knocks picked up at Goodison.

This is a very evenly match game and the result could turn either way. Villa had been unlucky to have lost to Everton in the Cup match not too long ago. And the loss had snapped their record breaking 7 away consecutive winning streak. Undoubtedly, this would have dented the Villa players morale but Villa are one of the quickest teams in European football at the moment so it will be interesting to see how Zico prepares his side. I am predicting a narrow Villa win 1-0, given the situation of the 2 teams. Definitely an entertaining game where the British speed will be pitted against the Brazilian trickery.