Steven Gerrard without Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa as Aston Villa team vs Southampton confirmed

Steven Gerrard has made two changes to the team which beat Brighton 2-0 at the Amex last weekend, as Ezri Konsa and Lucas Digne are both absent from the Aston Villa squad to face Southampton this afternoon.

In come Calum Chambers and Ashley Young to an otherwise unchanged team, meaning Emi Buendia is made to wait for his return to the starting XI.

The Argentine was left on the substitutes bench last weekend and is in reserve for the clash against Southampton today.

Gerrard has elected to keep both Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings in the same team for the second game running, with both strikers set to share responsibilities at the top of the pitch.

They will be joined by Philippe Coutinho in attack, who is set to take to a number 10 position in the hole behind former Saints striker Ings, and Watkins.

Gerrard lauded the 'selfless' displays of the his front men after the win over Brighton last weekend and will be hoping they can combine to devastating effect against a Southampton side who have only lost once in 10 Premier League games.

From front to back it'll be Emi Martinez playing behind a back four of Matty Cash, Chambers, Tyrone Mings and Young.

Ahead of the defence, it's the same again with John McGinn, Douglas Luiz and Jacob Ramsey.

Here's your Villa line-up ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

Martinez; Cash, Chambers, Mings, Young; McGinn, Douglas Luiz, J.Ramsey; Coutinho, Ings, Watkins.

Olsen, Hause, Sanson Chrisene, O'Reilly, Bailey, Buendia, Traore, Iroegbunam.