There’s been a lot of talk in the press about this game, for the obvious reason that if we manage to beat Pool at Anfield, then it might well mean Brendan Rodgers will get the bullet on Monday.
And if you look at our record at Anfield over the last few years, it’s quite impressive. Without checking the facts, I can only remember one defeat in the last four or five times we’ve played them there. There was also the memorable win over them in the FA cup semi.
So we have a very good record of getting a result, quite often when it wasn’t expected.
Liverpool have twice the points we do (8) from the first six games and sit 13th in the league. Of course that’s not on a par with the Liverpool fans lofty ambitions and while I almost felt a slight dig at them coming on then, the reality is that for a club like Liverpool, it simply isn’t good enough. I don’t know where you rate them, but to my mind they ought to be top six, with more of a claim than we have.
Especially when you consider the money they’ve spent.
The very good news on our part is that Christian Benteke won’t be involved.
Can you imagine him against our defence, if he’s on fire?
Like I said, good news.
Roberto Firmino has a cracked bone in his back, Dejan Lovren has done a ligament and Jordan Henderson has had an operation on his foot. That’s a fair loss this early in the season, I reckon.
On the plus side for them, Daniel Sturridge is back in after being rested for the narrow defeat of Carlisle midweek.
Did Liverpool really have 45 shots without scoring in that game?
If so, that sounds like a team desperately down on it’s luck.
As for us, the good news is Gana’s back in training after a bit of “Paul Daniels” type treatment in France and could be fit.
Gabby’s a doubt, but as I’ve previously suggested, I think he’ll get a start if he’s anywhere near ok.
Traore and Okore are back in training, but this game might be too soon.
And Gardner starts training on Monday.
So it could be worse.
So, what to think?
Well, liverpool have had a poor start and the manager is under severe pressure, isn’t he?
And we have that very good record at Anfield of late.
I find this one difficult to call for a few reasons.
First off, liverpool’s defence can be as dodgy as ours can’t it?
Which means if the likes of Grealish and Gil/Ayew get at them, we have plenty that can open them up.
Likewise, our defence, where Sturridge is always dangerous and they have plenty who can hurt us.
If that 45 shots is true, I’d suggest we need them to stay out of luck.
But the biggest thing is going to be how Sherwood approaches the game.
I’m guessing he’s going to try to maximise our pace and trickery, which is why I think he’ll be hoping for Gabby to at least start.
I’d expect Ayew to come straight in, although if Traore does happen to be fit, he’d get the right-wing slot first.
A straight back four, with Clark back on the bench.
And Sanchez and Westwood as the centre mids.
I doubt there’s much to be debated there and the usual applies, in the Gestede/Bacuna/Hutton merits or otherwise.
It’s definitely good that the team sheet doesn’t write itself these days and we do have realistic options.
So ultimately, the truth is I don’t know.
It could be a single goal win either way.
Then again, if either side gets their shooting boots on, it could be a shoeing.
So I’ll plump for 1-1.
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Disappointing yet again. Went with three defensive mids presumably to make us more solid and we concede after a minute. We needed to take the game to them and didn’t really look like that. Sinclair needs to be dropped, and maybe Westwood as well. We need Gana and Traore match fit, and Ayew should be starting as well. Looks like a long struggle again.
need toget some one in to organise this shambles,stillusual either concede early straight after goal last minute,westwood is the biggest joke out what does he do ,need to go 4411 two wide men that can cross
2 good goals from Gestede, but otherwise a pretty shocking display. Could have finished 6-2 if Liverpool had taken their chances (and they had a lof of them).
Once again cant figure out Sherwood’s team selection or subs. Way too deep first half, we made an average Liverpool team look good.
Sanchez was the only midfielder really getting stuck in and he hauls him off. He leaves Sinclair on for 90 minutes despite the fact he was terrible the whole game.. Ayew doesnt even get a minute on the field despite playing well midweek. AAAHHHH!!!
Another weekend feeling pissed off. Great.
Depressed again on Saturday afternoon. Supporting Villa has to be bad for your health.
Both goals today came from our backs, 1st Hutton and 2nd Amavi. Let it be a 5 at the back or some other formation but Sherwood needs to find a way for free up our backs and get them forward.
Dont worry lads the goals are going in at Villa Park, 11 -6 to Villa. Oh its rugby.
The reality is Sherwood is now feeling the pressure if he wasn’t already. If we lose the next three games, and the next cup game, I really can’t see Fox being able to not act and sack Sherwood. He was the one who appointed him after all.
As things stand we should be able to get 2/3 pts against Stoke and Swansea – Chelsea no way.
Fox has to act now 2-3 games the rot will well and truly have set in. Will have to go for a safe pair of hands in allerdyce unfortunately. But I don’t care how much I get slated for this deadwood is worse than Lamberk and I honestly never thought I’d say that!
To be fair oohah a majority of the site seem to agree with you about Sherwood, It’s only the minority Deadwood worshippers who disagree.
This is Aston Villa… the board will always give the manager multiple chances to put round pegs in square holes.
A liverpool team there for the taking, and they have 18, yes, F*****G EIGHTEEN shots on target.
Absolutely shocking tactics, shocking team selection, and I am sick of them shitty, floated corners.
Same old shit, week in week out.
This is the year we drop out of the premiership.
Sherwood on Villas poor start to the season: “We need to stay in the division and, if we do, we will be stronger next year.”
Errr…..what??!!!
Was it Sherwood who said we will not be in a relegation battle again! He will get it over and done with a long time before it gets to be a battle at this rate, defeat against Stoke at home and he has to be sacked!