When was the last time we had a Saturday 3pm kickoff?
I don’t remember, but it seems like it’s been ages and it’s nice to have one today. There’s just something that seems right about it and late Sunday night kickoffs just don’t do it, do they?
I haven’t heard much about Liverpool lately, so I had to look at the league table to see where they actually stand. Imagine my surprise then, to find that they’re only five points above us, having played one game more.
That sort of puts things in perspective really, because even though I think we’ve been playing poorly for months and results have definitely been poor, what does that say about the rest of the clubs in the Premier league?
Not a lot, it would seem and I still struggle to see that we’re ninth in the table.
So, where I was fearing a major backlash after us thrashing Liverpool at home, now I’m not so worried.
It would seem the Reds are not the same team they were, yet they’re in the middle of a European tie against Real, so they’re not doing too badly.
They have a lot of players out, in Jordan Henderson, Joel Matip, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk and Divock Origi.
That’s some list and it partly explains why they’ve not been as strong lately.
There’s nothing wrong with Liverpool’s attack though and they definitely have players who can hurt us.
Hopefully, our defence can stand firm and keep them out, but I suspect we might concede a couple today.
On the plus side, their defence is vulnerable and we have the capability of hurting them too.
The big news for us is of course Jack Grealish being out again and not looking like he’s likely to be back until May at the earliest.
It’s ok though, because Smith said it’s not a long term injury(!).
I seriously wonder if there had been copious amounts of alcohol involved before he came out with that statement.
If what will turn out to be three months isn’t a long term injury, I’d hate to see one that is.
Still, it’s just another example of the BS he has been speaking for months now, I suppose, so I’ll just leave it there.
I think a lot depends on how Smith sets the team up today and indeed, who he plays.
We all know it’ll be pretty much the same personnel as always, but he does have choices in how he plays them.
Our best bet is to actually go at Liverpool and put their defence under pressure from the off.
This would involve McGinn getting further forward.
If that doesn’t work, there’s always the option of putting Davis on. Not to score goals, but to bully the defence and create space for Watkins.
I see goals in this game and hopefully we’ll see a more lively performance from the lads, which will hopefully lead to us getting some too.
I’m going for 3-2.
I’d like to think we can actually edge this one, but I don’t quite have that confidence, so I think it’s going to go against us.
I actually think the performance is probably more important than the result today. We wouldn’t normally expect to get much from this game, after all.
What we don’t want is an abject poor performance and a heavy defeat.
But then, I don’t think we’re going to get one.
Up the Villa!
Comments
219 responses to “Liverpool – Villa; Revenge time?”
I’m actually quite looking forward to this game.
Liverpool to win I’m afraid mainly because they are on a six game losing streak at home and eight home games without a win.
As always Villa to the rescue then.
And I’ll leave it there 🙂
Jack out again are AVFC looking after him so he doesn’t get hurt again before they sell him for £100 million. Warrior VTID
Hopefully not, Warrior.
i don’t see that we’d let him go for £100 mill.
Line ups – Sanson is missing – presumably the injury he picked up against Fulham – Nakamba comes in to play alongside Luiz and, unsurprisingly, Trezeguet starts in place of El Ghazi in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Otherwise as you were.
Hope we see McGinn further up the pitch where he can apply pressure on Liverpool’s defence and play a key role in switching the ball from defence to attack.
No changing my prediction though.
Hope we are brave and have a go at them. They are poor defensively. If we sit back and try to contain the they will roll us over
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, Douglas Luiz, Nakamba, Traore, McGinn, Trezeguet, Watkins
Substitutes: Heaton, Taylor, Barkley, El Ghazi, Engels, Elmohamady, Hause, Davis, Ramsey
Luiz and Nakamba?
Sounds like Smith might indeed give McGinn some licence to push up.
Pool bench Mane, but Jota comes in.
Mings. Again.
Donkey.
Badger, Pat Nevin says Mings has been “an utter rock” since the error. Don’t be too hard on him, eh?
2-1. Season’s over. If we finish top half, we’ve done well.
Sorry, I can’t stand him BFR.
Terrible defender, imo.
You don’t see Konsa fucking up in nearly every game, do you?
We’re trying so hard to help Liverpool score – generous as always to the underdog 🙂
McGinn continually giving the ball away
McGinn has been awful
Rubbish up to now 🙁
Not even that good Badger
We seem desperate to give the ball away.
Another crap VAR offside but in our favour.
Where’s the desire?
Jeez, this is boring.
Traore is awful today. Him off Davis on and we might keep hold of the ball.
That’s the second time we’ve given them the ball DIRECTLY from a throw-in.
It’s just pathetic and if your 11 YO kid was doing it, you’d be doing your fruit.
Ollie, from a McGinn through ball.
1-0
Hahahahahahaha.
🙂
McGinn with an assist? “number 10 area” says Pat Nevin. I rest my case.
Mr Purslow, I’m happy to offer my services to AVFC for free – just pay my petrol.
Wow, they score, but it’s given off.
Clear and obvious error?
I don’t think so, that’s millimetres.
Terrible decision, imo.
Take that Idiot off Triore, guilty for that goal .
He’s been awful today Bill.
Just being subbed now and I don’t know how he’s managed to stay on so long.
Smith is way too slow with his decisions, imo.
I’m to blame for the goal. I just mopped to the loo and missed it
*nipped
El Ghazi? Omg
Triore is a wimp, I now know that Smith not got a clue in knowing his players.
Traore is a luxury player like his namesake at Wolves. Needs to be used as an impact sub but we don’t have a deep enough squad for that.
Please tell me . Ramsey was at one stage coming on for Trez but was pulled back, Nakamba is taken off on comes Barkley, Triore taken off on comes Elgazi. What the f”‘ck do we have youngsters that never get a chance knowing what he’s got is bleeding useless. Anyone know?
At last, Ramsey coming on . Tree off
Load of f’ing rubbish – again. We always help out teams on poor runs – time after time after time. It’s so boringly predictable.
Just poor. Aimless. We can hardly string two passes together. Really hard to watch.