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
Now this is one match I am really, really looking forward to. Put a performance together three times in one week and we will be indicating our intent to the rest of the PL and media for this season. Liverpool are a good side but they will miss out again on Champions League because there are better teams around them now and I think they will be playing for 6th to 8th place again. We showed last season that we can beat them and beat them well, so with the improvements we have made since March, we should be able to beat them again. Looking at comments on their own site, they are seriously worried about Benteke and the more they focus on how to stop Benteke, the more Gabby and Weiman will be able to spring a surprise. I’m going for 3:1 to Villa. Full house. Atmosphere should be amazing. Can’t wait. UTV
I’m going 3-2 to Villa. I agree they’ll have better fitness and no doubt the team won’t change, however they can’t defend against pace or strength, which is what Villa are and Benteke is going to destroy them. They can’t handle strong strikers and were opened up multiple times by Stoke, so there’s no reason Villa can’t do it.
Go for a 1:1
Don´t think that tiredness should be a reason for under-performing. Season is young and the players are fresh. What prevent me for predicting a win is our problem to dominate a home game last season. We are a strong counter-attack team which prefers to break down our counterparts game and we make the most of their mistakes.
Maybe we will see a more dominant home performance, but to be honest I doubt it. Hopefully, I will get another surprise in the same way like last two away games.
Wouldnt surprise me if Sylla started in midfield, just because he is fresh. Maybe give El Ahmadi a break. Okore should start at the back, hopefully he can really cement his place in the team now. Tonev should get more time on the pitch this game too.
..could be same team as against Malaga. Tonev and Okore could both start this game.
Honestly don’t think we should be tryin to outplay Liverpool, they hav only 1 way of playing and that is possession football and i don’t think we can beat them at their own game, but if we counter attack i tink we can win 3-1 again because if we can get ahead they will commit more players forward and we will score on the break! I honestly don’t care if we only hav 30% of possession as long as we have more than 50% of the goals, so a quick start and to not fuckin concede in the 1st 10 mins this time because im sure most teams hav realised we can be caught early so hopefully they push men forward quickly and we can hold out and catch them on the break, its a tough game hopefully the players are not as complacent as the fans because it won’t be as easy as most think! UTV
I agree with Kerryvillan here…as much as I would like to see Tonev start in midfield and really go for it, we have to be careful of Liverpool. I think Lambert will go for a more cautious gameplan, at least in the first half.
No going for a win Gerrard not the player he was, 2-1 Villa, watched him over the last two games and he seems to have lost pace and direction, could be just a blip on them matches but hoping he’s lost it now, will be a good game and yes should Benteke score and we win that load of shite media will start looking our way, what happened Wednesday not one screemed in favour to us.
Cautious is not something Lambert does i’m afraid Benno. He will go for this from the word go and just tell midfield and defence to fill in the holes as we go forward. Its nail-biting stuff, but its brilliant at the same time.
We have a great chance of registering a win, but we must be respectful of Liverpool. I’d really like to see a clean-sheet for Guzan – he deserves it. 1-0 Villa
4-3 Villa.
4-0 Villa, can’t wait.
4-0?
Blimey I like the confidence, but don’t see many goals, myself.
I’ll go for 2-1 and it could be either way, but really hope it’s in our favour.
This Liverpool side is still pretty strong and I’ve no doubt their front 3 of Aspas, Sturridge and Coutinho especially will cause us problems at the back. Equally, you can almost always back us to score as well. Think it will be an entertaining 2-2 draw as long as we get a fair and non biased referee this time.
I think 3 or 4 .2 to them
Keep Coutinho and Gerrard quiet by cutting their ability to supply Sturridge and I think we will have a great chance……fancy a 2-2 myself with a good open game.
With you on that Eddie, to me there’s the danger, we must not allow them two to command the middle and feed Sturridge. This game will be the answer to all our beliefs that the corner turned for the club, teams now will think twice on our way of stopping buying the leagues clubs. Utv .
Gutted bloggers coming down for the weekend from Wirral (tranmere) but couldn’t get a bloody ticket but ill be in the mitre before the game with my brian little t shirt on enjoying pre match drinks.Cant wait love Birmingham love Villa love life woooh.
Little 8 walk just down to the next corner cross road Holbourn hill turn right pub call the Villa tavern all of the villa boy are in and me, has been known spare seat will look for tee shirt. Could be oldest one in the pub by door.
Right on Bill never been in but ill probably meet you for a pint ill be with the missus think ive converted her .UP THE BLOODY LIONS.
OK will ask in pub to see if tickets are there, comming from nuneaton will friends but drinking on the way , I will put agratar up of pub next to my post. Bill. 🙂
I think were lose today and it will be another dogde decsions again they get us back cause of the arensal game mark my words football is corrept agree with me?