Aston Villa boss Unai Emery will count on Philippe Coutinho today against Liverpool.

Coutinho is set to return to the Aston Villa squad on Boxing Day as he tries to revive his career.

Emery has seen encouraging signs from the former Liverpool star, who could face his former club.

He said: "Coutinho had two or three training sessions when I arrived here. He trained very well before the injury. He was very excited to try to show me his best qualities.

"The injury was in a bad moment for everybody, for him, for the club, for the team. Now, he is training every day and I am seeing him really training well.

"I expect of him the best Coutinho possible. For him on Monday it is a special match against Liverpool and I think he is going to be in the squad.

"He is not ready to play 90 minutes, but I am looking forward to seeing him on the pitch and with his quality he can help us a lot."