I’ve been looking at the odds for the game and this morning I saw that you could get 9/1 for us to win tonight.
That’s massive odds given that Liverpool were somewhat lucky to beat us last season. It’s only a one-off game after all and we all know anything can happen.
To prove that, Blues are beating a near enough full strength Stoke side on their own turf, with just a few minutes to go.
As always, it’s a funny old game.
Then again, I think I’m glad that I can’t access my online betting account, as I’d probably be tempted to have a dabble and my head says that would definitely be money wasted.
Let’s look at squad news first and on our part, Jack Grealish had a bit of a dead leg, but should be okay. Kortney Hause went off on Thursday and is being assessed, so that’s possibly up in the air.
And Orjan Nyland, Bjorn Engles, Tom Heaton and Wesley are all out.
Not that it matters, as any of those injured wouldn’t have got any chance of starting this game.
As for Liverpool, Joel Matip, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Kostas Tsimikas are all out until after the international break.
The big news is that Sadio Mane is out because of Corona virus, as is Thiago Alcantara.
That’s good news for us, as it may save us conceding a goal or two.
Having read this far, you may already be getting the impression that I’m not expecting much here.
And you’d be right.
It’s not that I think Liverpool are miles ahead of us and beating them is an outright impossibility.
But the fact is they’re a very good side and it’s a big ask for any side, anywhere to beat them. It’s as simple as that.
That’s not to say we can’t hope though. Already I’m seeing results generally that don’t look quite right to me, as much as it’s early days.
I think we may see some top teams doing very poorly this season and vice versa. I hope so anyway, as it’s always good when the game gets mixed up.
But that’s not enough for me to think we can win this one.
The only issue I can see is whether Barkley comes straight in for Hourihane or not?
If I didn’t have a clue what Barkley has cost us, I’d have probably said he was much more likely to come off the bench. And while I don’t rate Hourihane in open play at all, it seems Dean Smith does, which sort of backs up my thinking.
But if the rumoured £11 million it’s supposed to have cost us is anywhere near true, you have to wonder how we could possibly justify not starting him. It’s not as if he’s not fit, after all.
So yes, I think he will come straight in.
Otherwise, the team still pretty much picks itself and I expect Traore to keep his place over Trezeguet. Which is ok, as Trez is a good player to bring on later anyway.
Then, there’s how do we approach this?
Well, I think Liverpool are going to get a couple whatever happens.
Some might think we’re all sorted in defence, but I’m not in the slightest bit convinced.
Hence I think we should definitely go for them from the off.
Thursday was a totally different game, with a totally different set of players, I know, but if we play anything like that slow, liverpool will tear us to pieces.
That said, we won’t.
And I think it’ll be closer than my head is telling me.
I’m going for 2-1 to Liverpool.
I’d like to think we can scrape a draw, but I just don’t see it, I’m afraid.
Up the Villa!
And that’s it, all over.
Unbelieveable.
I’ve remembered that 1977 game against ‘Pool for over 40 years; I’ll remember this one ’till I die
Stunned! I thought with 5 minutes to go we could win it! Imagine what it would have been like with a full house.
yeah, 42,000at VP…
Looking forward to Souness squirming in his seat
Where’s Bill? I hope he hasn’t had a heart attack!!!
He’s probably rolling around his living room floor pissed!!!!!
Oh they can’t take this away from us.
A lot of the deflections would still have gone in. Trying to help Liverpool feel better. not
Souness is a prize cock.
You were right about the two. 🙂
Credit has to go to Smith, his tactics were superior to Klopps today, and the attacking play has been excellent.
Souness just can’t praise Watkins! Complete idiot. Watkins is going to score plenty this season. Really glad we missed out on Wilson.
31 points to go! Lolol
I was at that 1977 game – 5-1. Never thought I would see the same again,
Top marks to Smith and the team.
So proud to be Villan.
It’s only three games but we have such a better team; Barkley a real positive – what I buy.
Ollie Watkins – £33m – a steal.
Sourness – and I didn’t make a spelling mistake 🙂
UTV
Barkley’s physical presence made a real difference to Grealish, McGinn & Watkins.
Watkins will get 20+ this season, if he can stay clear of injury
WE have got to come off cloud 9 quickly and capitalise on the good start…this will mean nowt if we dont keep it going………
Like all of us I have had 50 odd years of shit from L’pool and I missed the 5-1 as had no money to go to VP so this is just out of the world.
With all the missed chances I was still feeling sick with 10 to go – was certain they would get at least another 2 back…….
Dreamland tonight will be playing the game back in my dreams 😂
Never thought I’d see another villa performance like the 76game 5-0at half time.
Only disappointment was 2goals conceded and the 3we missed should have been 10-2
Not sure about Barkley he should have done better but hey who cares we just smashed the league champion 🏆 and world champions and destroyed a top sky 6side at last.
Smith is definitely improving or is it possible Shakespeare has something to do with it.utv