It’s not that often these days, where I can’t take my eyes off the game to go to the toilet or get myself a beer, but this was definitely one of those days.
I said in the preview that I thought Liverpool would get at least 2 goals and that part proved correct, but what I didn’t expect was such a resolute all-round performance from the Villa.
Make no mistake, there will be a few non-Villa fans saying we really aren’t that bad a side.
Ok, if I hold my hands up, I’ll say Pool were overall the better side.
But we defended so well for long periods that if we’d drawn, I don’t think it would have been undeserved.
You can’t knock Liverpool, because I got the feeling that it wasn’t going to be their day, given the chances that they created, but ultimately put well over the bar. But the fact that they came back from being a goal down with a few minutes to go, says it all. It’s the sign of a top team.
But while we lost, which was no disgrace against one of the best sides in Europe, I saw plenty to be pleased about.
While I think we missed Grealish, who I think would have found a few more gaps today, his not playing wasn’t the end of the world.
Dean Smith played well in using our wide players to stop theirs playing.
El Ghazi played well, as did Targett, but it was Trezuguet who gets the MOTM for me.
He gave Lovren a torrid time, got the goal, was close to getting a second and just worked his socks off. A brilliant performance.
If I have to moan, it would be because we constantly gave the ball away, every time we tried to clear it.
That said, Liverpool’s movement is excellent and they just put you under the cosh, which I guess makes defenders a bit panicky, but it’s something that bugs me whoever we play.
I still don’t know what to think about Wesley, but I’m afraid my opinion of him goes down a little with every game.
Is it the way we play that doesn’t suit him?
He just never seems to be where it matters for my liking.
Which is where I’d have liked Kodjia to have come on earlier. I just think his quicker (albeit sometimes clumsy) feet might have suited this game better.
And then there’s VAR, which I thought was disgraceful today.
Ok, both decisions went our way, but they were so close it shouldn’t have been used at all, if the aim is to correct obvious mistakes. As I said in the previous replies, both goals looked ok to me and if the ref got it wrong, it would be understandable.
I just don’t think the way VAR breaks the game up is justified with such close decisions and I don’t want things computerised for everything that isn’t an obviously good goal.
It’s supposed to be about CLEAR and OBVIOUS errors and that’s not what it’s being used for, imo.
Anyway, enough of that.
I’m proud of our lads today, simple as.
We’ll be okay, I’m sure of that, after today’s showing.