With key winger Ashley Young suspended, Martin O'Neill faces a selection dilemma when his side take on Liverpool on Tuesday night.

The Villa boss will have some work to do in order to assess who is the best option to replace Young and combat a Reds midfield containing England talisman Steven Gerrard.

The most likely option is that Stewart Downing will start on the left side with James Milner on the right and Stiliyan Petrov joined by Steve Sidwell in the centre.

But, O'Neill could also choose to hand forgotten man Nigel Reo-Coker a chance to shine just as he did when Villa routed Rafa Benitez' men at Anfield in August.

In fact, the Claret and Blue gaffer might actually prefer to revert back to the successful 4-5-1 formation which worked to such great effect on Merseyside.

But, with a four in midfield system proving useful of late it is unlikely that O'Neill will return to his old ways.

Young, who picked up his fifth booking of the season for a dive against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday, will be a big miss but his absence could actually work in Villa's favour.

Should the combative Reo-Coker or Sidwell be handed a start they may be able to keep tabs on Gerrard a little better than Milner would of, had he started in the middle.

Milner is a fine attacking player and he does put a great shift in whenever he plays, but his natural instinct is to get forward.

If Villa employ two holding men in Petrov and Sidwell or Reo-Coker, then Downing and Milner will be allowed to cause havoc down the flanks and provide key balls into the box for Gabby Agbonlahor and Emile Heskey.

Heskey may not actually feature, with an slight groin niggle hanging over his head but John Carew will be a like-for-like replacement.

One final name to throw into the starting XI hat is that of prodigious talent Fabian Delph. The former Leeds United youngster seems pretty fearless and his cool head could lead to him being given a start in one of the biggest games of the season so far.

Likely Villa line-up

                                           Friedel

     Young           Cuellar               Dunne                 Warnock

     Milner           Petrov               Sidwell                 Downing

                       Carew                Agbonlahor

Subs (from): Guzan, Beye, Collins, Clark, Delph, Reo-Coker, C Gardner, Heskey, Delfouneso