Aston Villa host Liverpool in their first home game of the season. Aston Villa have had to play 3 games in the past week and so far Villa have defeated Arsenal 3-1 but lost 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Liverpool got off to a winning a start by defeating Stoke City after Sturridge’s goal. Both sides have improved their squads over the summer transfer window and so far have kept key forwards Benteke and Saurez. This is also both Rodgers and Lambert’s second season in charge, meaning that expectations have risen. Liverpool will look to snatch a Champions League spot with Aston Villa hoping for a top table finish.
Liverpool will most likely play with the same team that started against Stoke, the only possible change is at left-back where new loan signing Sissokho could play instead of Enrique. Paul Lambert may make a few changes following two games in less than a week, Okore may be given a starting 11 spot following his good performance against Chelsea.
Team News:
Aston Villa are still without Nathan Baker who has an ankle injury, N’Zogbia is still out following an injury obtained during the summer break. Chris Herd has returned and has an outside chance of being involved with the squad. Ciaran Clark is also available following some head wounds against Chelsea
Liverpool are only without striker Saurez who continues to serve his 10-game ban.
Facts:
Christian Benteke scored three goals against Liverpool in the Premier League last season; more than any other player against the Reds.
Benteke has scored eight goals in his last eight Premier League appearances at Villa Park.
Since he made his Premier League debut, Liverpool have had a higher win percentage without Luis Suarez in their side (64 per cent) than they have with him (39per cent) in the competition.
Likely-Lineups:
Guzan
Lowton-Vlaar-Okore-Luna
El Ahmadi-Westwood-Delph
Weimann-Benteke-Agbonlahor
Sturridge
Aspas-Countinho
Gerrard-Lucas-Henderson
Johnson-Toure-Agger-Enrique
Mignolet
Predictions:
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
I think that Aston Villa can get a result, it could be a win, but following a tough game against Chelsea. Liverpool have an edge in terms of fitness. I hope Lambert makes a few changes, but I don’t think he actually will. Liverpool played well, there issue was scoring and not so much creating, but this should be Liverpool’s first real test in this Premier League season.
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Benteke was Aston Villa’s best player over the first game week with 18 points.
The top 5 best teams in the league:
1. Mattsonvilla = 106
2. Villastone fc = 98
3. Adam’s Monsters = 97
4. Go on my son = 96
5. Can’t catch me = 95
Very predictable. No creative midfielder makes it very difficult at home games. Naive of lambert to think counter attack will work at VP.
I am 100% sure we will pick up more points away from home this season again, I think our home form will be very poor again unless we invest in a creative player.
Not impressed at all by Bacuna and Tonev but its early days still. Neither are PL players at this moment.
On the evidence of this week, we’ll finish lower mid table. Around 13th IMO.
Give the boys a break guys! Pretty tough first three games of the season. We played well against Arsenal, were unlucky against Chelsea (probably deserved a draw), and lacked the cutting edge today. Liverpool are definitely a team on the up and Rogers has started to get them playing some nice flowing, passing football, like he did with the Swans.
Really poor first half at home.You can’t give Liverpool space and a chance to play football as we did in the first half.At one point they had had 70% of the possession against us at home.I know we have had a tough 1st 3 games and probably lacked a bit today because of that but you can’t go on using that as an excuse for a first half of lackluster play.Better 2nd half should of scored but it seemed it was never going to happen today.Dissapointing display over all expected more but can’t win em all….We need to find that home different way of playing we sat back cant do that at home…..UTV…..
Considering we weren’t at our best we still deserved a draw. Benteke made there keeper work well twice and gabby dragged another wide when he could’ve scored.
They for all there possession never worked Guzan..
Positives.. Luna looks decent.. Okore will make CB position his own and even Vlaar looked better.. Delph will be good this season if he can stay injury free..
Negatives.. Think Westwood and to a degree Lowton have been below par in first three games.. And please RL give PL the funds to by another quality midfielder..!!
Bacuna got man of the match???? How the hell dod that happen he gave the ball away to much. Tonev didn’t looks good at al. El amadi was solid as was delph again. Westwood didn’t cut it for me today. Okore is fantastic!!!! And he took over midfield at times aswel really pleased with Jores. I guess its a time thong but a bit of meat in midfield would be nice. A young yaya tours will do nicley
Very tired performance today. Really the FA screwed us over for this game.
Second half was much better, but still we kept giving the ball away in good positions.
We must buy a creative attacking midfielder before the end of the transfer window if we want to compete in the top half of the table. Not a 2-3m pound player either, someone with proven quality.
Positives today: Delph (MOTM again), Okore/Vlaar worked well together, Luna never stopped running….but that’s it!