I wasn’t going to bother posting on this one, but how can I not write on what is a pretty historic result?
This is the first time Liverpool have conceded seven goals since around 1963, after all.
Not that I’m bothered by that.
But given that the consensus amongst a lot of Villa fans is that we’re aiming for maybe midtable, this was an outstanding result that nobody expected.
So what happened? Were Liverpool poor or were we really good?
Well, I think it was both.
I asked in the preview that we get at them and we did from the off. The whole midfield were like terriers and didn’t give Liverpool any time at all, which totally unsettled them.
This, in turn gave Watkins room to play and get a well deserved hat-trick. His workrate and movement is exactly what we missed last season and while I hadn’t seen a lot of him previously, I can now fully understand why Smith was willing to spend so much money on him.
And then add in Barkley too, whose driving runs gave him many opportunities. His aggressiveness and power also make him look a bargain too.
I think a mention for Dean Smith is warranted here, because I think he got the tactics absolutely perfect today.
Liverpool play a very high line in defence and it’s proved very successful previously as they caught a lot of other teams out for offside last season.
I’m assuming it was a deliberate tactic, but we managed to get in behind the defence a few times.
How Liverpool didn’t start to defend a little deeper, I don’t know, but I’m not complaining.
Very little went right for Liverpool, as three major deflections in our favour attested, but we weren’t lucky as such.
From memory I think it’s fair to say we could quite easily have scored a nice round dozen on a better day.
Heh, a better day.
That sounds crazy when you’ve just destroyed the champions, but it’s absolutely true.
Barkley missed a sitter and had two other very good chances along with the one he scored.
Watkins hit the bar.
That’s eleven and I’m sure there were more chances that I can’t remember.
The interesting thing was that Liverpools confidence was evidently shot to pieces, while this must have done the world of good for our lads.
We’re now second in the league on nine points while having a game in hand over the rest of the top ten.
It’s perhaps a bit fortuitous that our first two games were against teams that look like they might seriously struggle this time round, but there was no questioning todays result.
Was there any downside?
Well there’s very little off the top of my head and even less worth mentioning.
Heck, I even admitted that Matt Targett was having a good game and you won’t hear that from me very often unless he maintains that sort of standard.
I’m not at work tomorrow, but if I was, I’d be going in with a massive smile on my face.
I’m sure a few of you definitely will.
And it’ll be totally justified.
Happy days and UTV!!!
Who’s an hairy hat that play’s for utd cost 80 odd millions gets a second yellow card and sent off. Why it’s McGire would you believe , I effing knew it.
The most expensive donkey in England…
He haw he haw he haw to be in jail….
Say bye bye to Benararma he’s having a medical at West Ham ..
As said previously, I’m not convinced Benrahma has ever been on our radar. Watkins was the primary target and I think we’ve got the better deal.
Benrahma was anonymous in Brentford’s run in and in the play off final – not convinced he’ll cut it in the Prem. As an example Jota was brilliant in the Championship at Brentford …… say no more!
Watkins is younger, will continue to improve and from what we’ve seen so far is very bit as good as Abraham.
I will be very surprised if we add to the squad before tomorrow night.
UTV
I think Watkins is young enough to get even better in the PL, whereas suspect you’re right that Benrahma may already be as good as he’ll ever be.
When i saw the southgate post match interview and he was asked about grealish. He responded that they needed speed. I couldn’t help thinking about Rocky 2 where his trainer said he needed speed to beat apollo creed and got him trying to catch a chicken running round a yard.
Well Southgate you are that chicken and headless.
So he put on Sancho who did naff all and Henderson who’d struggle to catch a tortoise.
The man’s a blithering idiot. I’d rather he was honest and said ‘I’m in love with Mount – not Grealish’ 🙂
I feel for a Jack but England’s loss etc………
UTV