Firstly, don’t be confused between Alfie and I. It isn’t often I write on here, and the credit for the amazing work whilst Badger isn’t active should go to him.
Now I am sure that many of us would’ve thought that this would be a nothing match, and we would be able to completely throw the game (don’t tell the football police!). However, this is totally not the case, as we now can beat Liverpool to secure a Champions League spot, and as can they should they beat us.
Of course, if Man City beat Bournemouth, we can secure it even if we lose, and if we draw to Liverpool, a draw against Man City wouldn’t be enough for Bournemouth.
And the most sickening thought is that if we don’t beat Liverpool, Alfie and myself will be on the plane to Istanbul whilst Bournemouth face Man City! Please Villa.
Onto the match, Emery has confirmed that Onana and, shock, Alysson will miss the match tomorrow. That comes as no surprise to me, as I had originally wrote I expect him to be nowhere near the squad when first drafting this post. I also feel he may rest players such as Pau, Lindelof and Digne ahead of the final. In summary, I expect it to be a mixture of regular starters and non-starters in the team, but not as rotated as the Spurs game. But I wouldn’t mind being proven wrong if I’m honest in favour of more rotation.
Liverpool and Villa have had identical seasons in terms of points, and the exact same W/D/L record. So, surely, you would think it’s a game where the home team would edge it based on that slight advantage? But is it ever that easy with Villa?
Our record against Liverpool is poor, home and away, with our last win against them coming in 2020, in a very memorable fashion as the Villans smashed the Reds 7-2, with Ollie Watkins scoring a hatrick. I wouldn’t mind a repeat of that.
If I’m honest, I think it would take more than a miracle to repeat that. In fact the closest I think we would get to it is a repeat of the atmosphere at Forest last Thursday, which won’t happen.
I think we will score, but I don’t think it will be enough to win the match. I think it will be Ollie Watkins to head us in front in the first half. And Liverpool come back with a first half equaliser. Very specific, I know.
My prediction: Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
Lets do this, UTV!
Good job for Forest that they are already safe from relegation. Imagine the outrage if that decision sent them down. Even Neville said it was a clear handball but then backtracked slightly by saying the ball came off his hip onto his arm. It definitely would have been ruled out if it was a Forest goal.
100%.