Gerard Houllier and Roy Hodgson are two managers that have not found life easy at their new clubs and on Monday Aston Villa travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool as the Frenchman returns to his old stomping ground (Liverpool 3/5, draw 11/4, Villa 5/1).
Villa are really struggling for wins in the Premier League in recent weeks and have only picked up one victory in their last nine games in the top flight.
Houllier’s job has not been made easy by an injury list as long as the former Lyon manager’s arm with nine first-team players all sidelined at one point. At the moment Marc Albrighton, Fabian Delph, Emile Heskey, Stiliyan Petrov and Nigel Reo-Coker are all out of action.
Houllier will not want to be looking at Villa’s stats against Liverpool as they have only managed one win in the last 17 meetings between the two sides but that was a 3-1 win last season. Villa have the worst record in the Premier League this season against sides in the top half of the table as they have only managed to pick up three points from a possible 24.
As for Liverpool they have started to slowly turn their season around after a poor start to the campaign under Hodgson. The Reds have won their last three games at Anfield including an impressive 2-0 win over Chelsea which has started a run of poor form for the Blues.
Pepe Reina made some crucial saves for the Merseyside club in that clash and he will pick up his 100th clean sheet for Liverpool if he can keep a clean sheet on Monday night.
Unfortunately for Liverpool fans they will be without skipper Steven Gerrard who is still out of action with a hamstring injury which he picked up whilst playing for England in a friendly against France.
The Reds will also be without key defender Jamie Carragher as he is expected to have an extended period on the sidelines after suffering a shoulder injury.
With injuries to key players on both sides this is going to be a close game between two inconsistent sides that have played some good football this season, in spells.
It gets said often but it could be that man Fernando Torres (4/1 to get the first goal of the game) that could be the difference between the two sides as he looks to get back to his best form which he has started to show but again, in spells.
Liverpool should edge this one at home in front of their home fans so it looks unlikely that Houllier will have a happy return to Merseyside.
Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.