Stats: Can Mario continue Villa record?
Mario Balotelli will hope to continue his excellent scoring record against Aston Villa as he prepares to step out at Anfield for the first time in a red shirt on Saturday - find out more with all of our pre-match facts and figures.
The Italian striker has scored six goals against Villa in league and cup in four appearances. His only hat-trick in English football came against the Midlands outfit in a 4-0 Manchester City home win in December 2010.
Last season the teams drew 2-2 at Anfield. Villa led 2-0 after 36 minutes thanks to Andreas Weimann and Christian Benteke. Daniel Sturridge reduced the arrears on the stroke of half-time before a Steven Gerrard penalty rescued a point for Liverpool.
In the Premier League era, the Reds have won 23 meetings and Villa 11, with the other 10 being drawn. At Anfield, the hosts have won 12 and lost five of the 22 clashes.
Liverpool have lost three of the last 25 league meetings home and away.
The Reds have won 79 points against Villa in the Premier League - more than any other team. Next best are Newcastle United, with 77.
Martin Skrtel made his Liverpool debut as a substitute against Villa at Anfield in a 2-2 draw in January 2008.
Gerrard has scored more goals against Villa - 13 - than any other side, with 12 of those coming in the league. Robbie Fowler also scored a dozen league goals against the Villains.
Five Liverpool players have scored league hat-tricks against Villa - Bobby Graham (1964), Ian Rush (1984), Fowler (1998), Michael Owen (2000) and Gerrard (2009).
The Reds have scored 21 times in their last nine home games against Villa and are two goals short of recording 200 against today's opponents in all home league games.
They have scored more league goals, 312, against Villa than past any other team.
Villa have won twice in their last 12 visits to Anfield - the most recent coming two seasons ago when Benteke, twice, and Weimann netted in a 3-1 win.
Their last three wins on this ground have been by a 3-1 scoreline - 2001, 2009 and 2012.
Villa have not kept a clean sheet in their last 14 league visits to Anfield.
They have won five of the last 35 games at Anfield dating back to 1977-78, but are unbeaten in the last three with a win and two draws.
Villa have scored in six of their last 10 visits to Anfield.
Aly Cissokho made 19 appearances for Liverpool last season during his loan from Valencia, including his debut against Villa at Villa Park.
Last season, Villa finished 15th with 38 points and conceded 61 goals, with only the three relegated sides conceding more. They scored 39 times, with Benteke finishing as leading scorer in the league with 10 goals despite not playing since late March.
Villa have lost seven of their last 10 away fixtures in the Premier League, with the opening day win at Stoke City being their first on the road since New Year's Day.
They have scored three goals in their last eight away league games.
Weimann could become the first visiting player since John Fashanu in 1993-94 to score at Anfield in three successive seasons. Injury robs Benteke of the opportunity to do likewise today.
Joe Cole scored five goals in 42 appearances during his three-year stay with the Reds.
Paul Lambert has overseen 79 league games in charge of Villa, winning 22 and losing 37.