Steven Gerrard claim made ahead of Villa tie

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard face his former club tonight in a fixture deemed too important to let slip their title bid

Steven Gerrard press conference

Liverpool great John Barnes thinks tonight's Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa will not come easy for the Reds despite the bond between Steven Gerrard and the Anfield club.

Liverpool are now trailing leaders Manchester City by three points in the Premier League after the weekend draw with Tottenham.

But a win tonight will push them back to level at the top with either side trailing on goals.

Speaking to BonusCodeBets Barnes said: "Yeah, he [ Steven Gerrard] is really going to lie down and say they can beat them 6-0… of course not. He's a professional, he wants his team to win.

"When Liverpool played Blackburn at the end of last season, and Manchester United would have won the league had they beaten them and they won and we beat Blackburn and Man United too.

"I'm sure that's what Steven Gerrard will be hoping for. Hoping for a good result for his club Aston Villa and hoping when they play Man City, they can do Liverpool a favour. He won't be lying down and his team will be high priority for the game, as you would expect."