Liverpool vs Aston Villa - Match Preview

Team news:

Liverpool

Firstly let’s get the scousers out of the way; they are pretty much at full strength minus Jose Enrique. Daniel Sturridge made a goal scoring return in a 25 minute cameo appearance against Stoke last weekend, a game in which LFC won 3-5 away from home. This season Liverpool has good strength in depth and as much as it pains me to say it they look good for a top four finish.

Aston Villa

Nathan Baker is doubtful thanks to getting a ball smashed in his face and suffering from concussion in the 1-2 home defeat to Arsenal last weekend (I have played football with a broken wrist MAN UP!!). Apart from Baker we have the usual long term absences of Nzogbia (hands up who forgot he played for us) and Jores Okore.

Likely line-up:

football formations

Lambert looks set to name both new loan signings in the starting line-up to freshen things up. Antonio Luna (a bit of a loose cannon) should make way for Ryan Bertrand; this should add some stability at the back (and here’s hoping we can make this a permanent deal in the summer to sort the problematic left back slot once and for all). I have every confidence that if given the chance Grant Holt is going to be a nuisance for the Liverpool back four and even if he doesn’t score he should create chances for others. We are all hoping that the goal for Benteke last week will give him a much needed boost in confidence, with Benteke at his best we can start looking up rather than down.

There has been a lot of criticism lately about the style of play but I genuinely believe that are best chance of victory will be to go direct to Holt and Benteke, and to pressure high up the pitch (risky perhaps with the pace of Sturridge and Suarez but necessary otherwise they will dictate play and pick us off).

I really don’t like Liverpool:

Liverpool is a team I want us to beat more than any other (except for Small Heath but we won’t be seeing them for a few seasons). The only reason I can think of why this is would be is that during my school days it seemed like everyone I knew was a Liverpool “fan”, I use the word “fan” very loosely because none of these “fans” had any kind of connection to the club they weren’t from Liverpool nor were their families, they simply chose the best team at the time, and in some cases that decision was where being a fan began and ended, they did not watch football they simply claimed to be a fan – this did not stop them ribbing me when my beloved Villa suffered humiliation – the Villa that I have followed through thick and thin, to Europe and Norwich. Beating teams like Liverpool and Manchester United allow me that small window of gloating amongst my friends that fill the gaps between their teams picking up trophies or inflicting a heavy defeat on us. My Facebook wall was especially quiet last season when we picked up an unlikely 1-3 away victory at Anfield, quiet that is apart from me – I made the most of the occasion, and intend on doing so should a shock happen tomorrow.

Prediction:

Sorry but I am at it again, I am going with a 3-1 defeat because the SAS are going to be too much for our defence. I will just be happy to see a battling display and I expect we will get what we deserve.