The good news (or is it?) is that I’ll be going to the game, along with numerous members of the family.
I had planned to go home this weekend, but it’s hardly worth it if I have to drive up again tomorrow afternoon when I’m already here anyway. And seeing as I’m saying up here, I might as well go to work, as sit in an apartment in decidedly cold Liverpool.
It’ll be my fifth week of seven days on the trot, something my immediate boss will seriously complain about when he comes back off his holiday, as it’s against company policy. But who cares? Spanish bills don’t pay themselves and even football clubs put money above anything else. Anyway, nobody was against seven days a week over the last 25 years in my case, when it was practically compulsory. And as a self employed person, I’ve previously (not seriously) threatened to take my client to court for restriction of trade. I don’t really think that flag would fly, as being rested regularly is surely sensible.
I’m rattling. I’ve been invited by a red fan to a cafe to meet up, but frankly, I’m more interested in getting a few compulsory jars down my neck. As I’m sure many other travelling fans will. 8pm is a totally irresponsible time for a kick-off, but hey, TV companies chase the money too, don’t they?
Squad news first then and Tilemans is expected to be fit, but has a niggling injury that has omitted him from Belgium’s squad. Hopefully, it’s just pretend, so he doesn’t have to play in a rubbish tournament that nobody wants.
Ross Barkley is definitely out until after the international rubbish and Cash “missed Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat at Club Brugge due to injury.” That’s from the OS and is as clear as mud. Is he fit or not? Who writes for a Premier league club and puts that in the team news? Probably has a degree though, so it’s all good. Jesus!
Apart from that, I think everyone else is fit and available.
As for Pool, Alisson Becker, Federico Chiesa, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota are ruled out. Some decent players there, although my red workmate isn’t missing Alisson in the slightest. Jota is a big miss imo, but they’re doing fine without him.
What to think then?
Well, I could just copy and paste both manager’s comments, but to sum up, Slot seems to indicate that he knows exactly what Villa and Emery are about. So much so, that he seems to hint that we’re very predictable;
https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/liverpool-v-aston-villa-team-news-2
Whereas Emery seems to comment on how we need to be able to play 3 games a week and be mentally and physically in a good place;
https://www.avfc.co.uk/news/2024/november/08/emery-quizzed-ahead-of-liverpool
I’m probably reading too much in those comments, but they pretty much align with my thinking.
Liverpool probably have the best form of any team in the world, let alone the Premier league.
Whereas when we play, we look like we’re running in treacle, with no pace or even seemingly much desire to play in the way we did last season, with rapid passing and one touch football eminating from a ball launched from the back. It’s all too slow and if we play like that, Pool will detroy us, in my opinion.
Hence I’m going for a 3-0 loss and I fear it could be a lot worse. Our defence is horrendous, after all.
My red workmate is expecting more like 5-0 and I’d be minded to agree with him, except things are never as extreme as you think.
Which takes me back to the first couple of lines.
Is being able to go to this game a good thing?
The only plus I have in my mind is that we are that big game side that I talked about previously after all and we at least put up a very stiff defence.
Or maybe even nick the points?
Nah, What am I thinking?
UTV!
Comments
54 responses to “Liverpool – Villa; A bad time to play them”
Let’s hope we do indeed play well.
Walking on treacle?
I read a comment on another Villa forum of us playing ‘Walking Football’ and I don’t think that’s to wide of the mark.
As for Slotts comments – playing the same football for 10 years?
Well I think you can read into that the man thinks he has the measure of Emery?
As for tomorrow I’m of the same thinking as your Red mate…
5-0, Salah to score first- 50/1 bet on.
Sounds a little bit arrogant from Slot.
I detest arrogance in any form so I hope we ram it down his throat! Unfortunately the world doesn’t work that way so I fully expect Liverpool to win.
Onward and downward then – the old Villa fan is never far away 🙂
Not looking forward to tonight’s game. If Pool score early on it could be an embarrassing score line. It’s funny that a few weeks ago after beating Bayern, that we are now after 3 defeats in a row, hoping for a draw or a respectable defeat. I really can’t see a win and the international break can’t come soon enough.
Are Emery’s tactics becoming too predictable and teams are now better prepared to play against us?
Things change quickly in terms of fans opinions. One minute we are all praising Emery and suddenly after a few defeats there are a few questions about our way of playing.
When we are winning we are okay with the ponderous passing between our defenders and Martinez. We have learnt to be patient knowing we are waiting for the transition in play. When things are going wrong we become frustrated by the lack of urgency and inability to break down a compact defence. Our ability to find forwards offside if not by the linesman (referees assistant or whatever) but by VAR is suddenly not happening.
Prediction from me 3-0 to Pool!
It’s been a crazy season so far so I predict a 2-1 win for Villa (and no, I haven’t had a drink…yet).
Keep the faith.
Villa v Liverpool is a massive game. I think Villa will win.
Spoke to a Reds fan earlier who, like me fancies a 2-1 Villa win!
Nothing wrong with the way we have played. They know they are in a game. A few good chances but once again nothing from our front two.. our right hand side good again. Or defence solid happy to be a villa fan again . Feck. Ramsay… Not again please
Should’ve sold him when we had the chance. Sorry to say he’s looks like joining the long list of very good players who never reached their potential because of frequent injuries.
It’s pretty much an evenly matched game so far. Apart from their well taken goal.
Hallelujah
Ramsey I get it one of our own and all that BUT
He is never a top 6 player
Does create nothing for me I’m afraid
Look where we finished last season without him
I thought he was playing well but hey ho it’s all about opinions?
Much improved on Wednesday’s debacle but oh how Ollie really does need to find his shooting boots.
This Ref ain’t gonna give us shite, looks totally intimidated by Anfield.
I thought Ramsey was our best player. Typical he’s the one who is injured. I’m as angry about the goal tonight as the one against Brugge. MacPhee should know better they are the quickest team at counter attacking, yet we should have conceded a second in exactly the same way. Let’s expect another early second half goal conceded before the humiliation.
What is missing from Villa’s play?
Exemplified by Rogers’ pitiful attempt at goal when clean through…what’s missing?
Not clinical enough?
Conviction. So pretty much what you said, RSS.
And lack of conviction stems from a lack of… ?
Belief I’d say?
Correct, RSS. Which is a worry because once that goes, it’s hard to get back.
Not saying Ramsey is not a good player
He ain’t a top 6 player for me I’m
Flatters to deceive at times
Maginn got to play central to get the best out of him
Luca Digne when looking at the ref: “it’s like looking in a mirror. Only… not.”
I’ve had it with Bailey. Ship him out in January.
If we are carrying players then Ollie Watkins meets that criticism, his work as centre forward has slipped as I’m writing this they are taking Watkins off which proves my point. We won’t get anything from this game our system all wrong with this tiptap approach.
To quote the commentator on the foreign channel I’m watching, as Ollie came off: “Watkins looks literally exhausted”
Even there. Why did Rogers let it go for a corner? Why not keep it in and drive at goal?
Konsa sprints back and makes it. But instead of cleaning Mo and his ball out, goes to the net. 🤦🤦🤦
And Carlos costs us yet again.
Players to ship out:-
Carlos
Bailey
Philogene
Don’t forget big Ty.
Philogene…
I really don’t get why we bought him back?
Because we couldn’t afford anything better, due to being ****** by FFP. By the same token, we seriously miss Diaby. Very seriously. The squad was weakened in the summer, which is exactly what the bent powers that be wanted. Job done. Meanwhile, the financial shambles that are Chelsea and United regroup quietly and are allowed to get on with it. They’ll soon regain their God given right to the top 4, and the squatters that are Aston Villa will be evicted. Let them do their f******* super league and everyone will be well rid.
We’re “in a bit of treacle”, to quote Paul Merson.
That’s it game over!!! We had a chance, but Phil gene doesn’t hit the ball when driving into the box, Roger’s goes for a corner and basically says you bring your boys up and we will bring ours and we will have a go at a corner! No no no, you have them on the ropes and running back to their on goal. Ball in the box now…….. we wasted so so so many opportunities and Ollie Watkins must come out to Emery and say I’m not feeling it!!!! Because his last 10 minutes was him waiting to come off.
Exactly, Tom. As I said: Lack of conviction, which comes from lack of belief.
We have identified the problems for free. Those who are handsomely paid need to find the solutions! Quickly!
That’s why it’s all wrong, why do we constantly play out from the back every time, with no long balls Liverpool twice or more did the long ball and we paid the price. Change the bloody system for god’s sake .
Well that was shite.
An improvement on Wednesday’s shower?
To be fair IF Ollie was wearing a Red shirt you can guarantee a pen would have been awarded AND Torres, if someone pulls your shirt on the halfway line is it not a foul?
Your honour, I rest my case.
The most annoying thing about that defeat was it was self inflicted AGAIN.
Everyone knows Liverpool are most likely to score when breaking at speed. Did they not mention that in the training sessions? One goal from our corner. Then they should have scored again in exactly the same way. Then their second goal comes from a useless header from Carlos letting in Salah for a free run at goal.
There’s absolutely no chance of us being top 4 this season. Whether we blame PSR / FFP for not getting a RB in which as proved very costly.
Cash is an injury waiting to happen. I quite like Ned but Emery clearly doesn’t trust him. Ramsey and Onana both seem to be struggling to finish games. Watkins has totally lost it. Rogers looks like the hype has caught him up. McGinn looks unfit and is struggling. And Bailey is a waste of space this season!
After the Barcodes thrashing last season Emery said ‘We won’t change the way we play’ and sure enough the Scousers said our wingers are faster than your full-backs – so Villa got a lesson in the stupidity of being stubborn. Same again this year so one has to ask Emery why we won’t change – is it because you are a one trick pony?
As BFR writes – the belief in the manager having a game plan for each opponent has evaporated, because clearly he doesn’t. An obvious starting point is improving our shooting and heading accuracy. Attempts to hit the ball into the corners of the net miss by so much that the strikers should be told to aim to hit the keeper – then their efforts would nick in off the post.
We are probably in a rut now until March.
Harsh OLL.
To be fair, he didn’t, we finished forth?
Yes because we were good at most venues. But Old Trafford, St James’s, and Anfield are exceptions – and in most seasons so is Selhurst.
I have to agree with you OLL its sticks out a mile with me. Yes we finished forth but games change when clubs find you out, we punished Liverpool years ago with two fast wingers 7-2 that was the time nobody could touch them, but we did. Our play is repetitive and clubs see that we have to change tactics and play too our knowledge on other clubs. We had almost destroyed a player in leaving him running around like a headless chicken we have to change and quickly.
You can through the whole team and make an account for all of them
Square pegs in round holes
Konsa not a right back
Carlos very very poor should be 4th choice centre back mistake every week !!!!!!
Roger’s Knackered
Watkins at the minute no service no confidence
Bailey waiting for his hamstring to go pop
Maginn needs to play centrally to get the best out of him
You could go on
Don’t become a bad team overnight
Unai will sort it
Onwards
Square pegs round holes
Konsa never a right back .
Carlos mistake every week .
Rogers knackered
Ollle no service no confidence
Maginn needs to play centrally
Bologna we moved the ball around so quick , we are now laboured in our approach
Don’t become a bad team overnight
Unai will Sort it
Bailey was hopeless the first season. He came to life because Diaby was serious compétion for him. He isn’t getting that from Philogene.
I think Emery is waiting/hoping for him to get a goal and find some confidence . Philogene is seriously wasting his opportunities and today, he should have shot when he found himself in the box. At that point anything could have happened, be it a corner won, a deflection that falls to Duran. That chance against Liverpool away comes once every other season for players like him and it was a waste. This lad needs to remember how he felt when he got the chance to come back to Villa and play champions league.
I can’t help but be frustrated when I think how Digne and Moreno was a perfectly solid left back covering. Why we brought another left back when we needed a right back I will not understand. My only thinking there is it was all FF effing P that cost us that one.