I’ve been to this fixture three times over the years and it’s another game I’ve always looked forward to. Liverpool are another team who have been good to watch over the years, the 80’s apart, where they bored me witless with their constant European style passing back to the goalie rubbish (er, that rings a bell actually).
Apart from that period they’ve always tried to play a dynamic game and it’s still the same now.
If this game was being played a few weeks back, I’d have been a lot more confident, but they’re on a roll now and I think they’ve won their last seven games???
So what do we know about the teams?
The main one for us is that Coutinho is out.I’m not sure why and to be honest I don’t particularly care. He’s been yet another disaster in a long list of disastrous Aston Villa signings and while Emery has been making all the right noises about how we need him, I don’t believe the manager rates him as much more than a squad player.
I’d be looking to get rid in the summer, but you have to wonder who’d be willing to pay his no doubt daft wages. Thanks for that one Stevie G.
The only other news is that Calum Chambers was apparently sick on Thursday, but Unai seemed pretty confident that he’ll be okay.
Otherwise we’re all good and I’d expect probably the same side as we’ve seen for the last three games.
As for Liverpool, they have Roberto Firmino fit again, but the word is that he won’t be starting. What price he comes on for a few minutes and gets a goal?
Darwin Nunez is sidelined because of a toe tendon issue and Thiago Alcantara, Stefan Bajcetic and Calvin Ramsay have all been ruled out.
Klipperty has a touchline ban today after slating ref Tierney last week. Will that make any difference? I doubt it.
I think Liverpool are going to come at us for this one and the big risk for us is playing our usual high line. If we do that and I’m sure we will, I suspect it’ll be playing into the Reds’ hands as they have the pace to get in behind us quickly.
Might we see Ash Young dropped for this reason, as he’s certainly looked leggy lately?
Pool could also sit back and just hit us on the counter, but I don’t think so.
So I see goals and if I’m being honest it’s got to be a Liverpool win all day.
I’m tempted to say 3-1, but I’m going to go for a 2-1 loss.
Liverpool are just going too well, I feel, although I didn’t really hold out much hope for last week and the lads pleasantly surprised me.
Ah, the ups and downs of being a Villa fan eh?
UTV!
Comments
32 responses to “Liverpool – Villa; Another tough one. Aren’t they all?”
COYL!
I remember Liverpool played the high line and was beat 7-2 so to me it means nothing on the day, skill is the name of the game and Emery knows his football, I bet you we will give them a game today and lose by a goal , football a funny old game as quoted by that Jimmy Greaves in his hey day , after all that we have had a great season, just wished we never had Steve Gerrard from the start.
I would love to see Coutinho playing in this team. We saw touches of pure class from him but he struggled with Gerrards tactics. We should nick a draw, at least today. Spurs being held by Brentford would be a real boost to our players. Amazing how we are supporting other teams when normally we wouldn’t wipe our arses with their colours. Happy days
Interesting choices by Emery – Cash in for Young, Digne in for Moreno and Kamara for Buendia – the latter two drop to the bench.
Young not mentioned but that may change as only six substitutes initially named on OS.
Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, Bailey, McGinn, Kamara, Luis, Ramsey, Watkins.
Suggests we won’t be playing such a high line. Also allows Emery to make changes later if he need to chase the game – for instance playing Moreno in front of Digne?
Still only six substitutes named of which two are goal keepers! Young, Carlos, Dendonker and Chambers all missing – do we have an illness problem or is Emery holding his cards close to his chest.
Strange and a little concerning
Young and Dendoncker shown as substitutes on Twitter but no Carlos?
Spurs lose to Brentford 1-3 so our points / GD are identical but we will go ahead of Spurs (temporarily) as results between the two teams is the next deciding metric.
Up to the Villa now to try and make the most of Spurs defeat.
That’s the way to finish
I knew Watkins would miss that.
I was thinking let Luiz take it.
How can they decide that a player who has forgotten how to score should take a penalty. I really wanted him to score but I really am losing faith in him as our center forward
It should be a club rule that a player who has been foul-tackled to win a penalty should not take it, the number missed when that is ignored is significant.
I don’t believe it we score
amsey, get in 1-0!
Ramsey.
Bloody hell it could have been 2 up.
I’m really disappointed in Liverpool.
Taking out McGinn seems a deliberate tactic.
Dirty bastards and I really, really want us to win this now.
The standard of refereeing lately has me infuriated. Since when did it become acceptable to repeatedly pull players to the ground? Last week was exactly the same.
we are playing Liverpool, the ref, the crowd and the commentators and totally dominating a team that’s won there last 7.
what unai has achieved with this squad is remarkable
i wonder what the odds are on villa doing a leicester and winning the title next season with a full summer etc? COYL
A great first half.
Pool haven’t had a shot on target.
Oh and Mings has been immense.
I can understand no postings cause you can’t take your eyes of the game. Magnificent defending and how mings, having won the ball, could stop his foot hitting a pool player is beyond me
Good first half I’m all fairness. We can beat these but I can see Pool scoring second half. Anyone else expect the referee to help even the score at some point, I feel a red or a dodgy decision to go against us.
We cannot really complain about this ref and the more McGinn tells him his job the longer he will take to give that booking.
That’s off, imo.
Rightly so, it was miles off.
10 MIN INJURY LOL
You absolutely knew the officials would eventually be on Liverpools side.
10 minutes of extra time is complete rubbish.
Probably a fair result
All to play for next Sunday
Is this a Liverpool thing Everton score in the 99 th minute, and that saved them . Told you when it comes to the midlands we are shit on .