Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez will have a defensive selection headache ahead of the game against Aston Villa at Anfield.

Benitez will choose between teenager Daniel Ayala, Slovakian Martin Skrtel and new signing Sotirios Kyrgiakos to partner Jamie Carragher in defence.

Skrtel is still in contention despite missing the midweek 4-0 win over Stoke with a fractured jaw.

Kyrgiakos, a £2million acquisition from AEK Athens, lacks match fitness, so Ayala could retain his place.

Daniel Agger will have back surgery next week and is likely to be out for six weeks, missing Monday night's clash.

The Liverpool defender has missed the first two Premier League games of the season, having been troubled with the injury all summer.

Aston Villa defender Curtis Davies is doubtful after a recurrence of his shoulder problem.

Davies suffered the setback during the latter stages of the Europa League clash away to Rapid Vienna and his replacement, rookie Shane Lowry, is amongst the candidates to replace him although Habib Beye could switch from right-back.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill will also be hoping striker John Carew is fit to make his first appearance of the season - the Norwegian missed the home league reversal by Wigan with a foot injury and then pulled out of the Vienna game with a virus.

Teams:

Liverpool (from): Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Ayala, Skrtel, Kyrgiakos, Dossena, Insua, Babel, Benayoun, Gerrard, Mascherano, Lucas, Voronin, Kuyt, Torres, Cavalieri, Spearing, Ngog, Kelly, Riera.

Aston Villa (from): Friedel, Guzan, Beye, Cuellar, Davies, Lowry, Shorey, Gardner, Milner, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Sidwell, A. Young, Heskey, Agbonlahor, Carew, Clark, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph.