Pre-match: Aston Villa v Liverpool | 31 Mar 2013 13:30

   
Aston Villa v Liverpool
31 Mar 2013, 13:30
Villa Park

With the international break over, Liverpool hope to rebound from a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Southampton two weekends ago when they travel to Villa Park on Sunday.

In the reverse fixture at Anfield, Aston Villa came away with a shock 3-1 victory of their own back in December, using their size to easily beat Liverpool's backline through the air. The Reds have since bolstered their ranks in the January market with the arrivals of attackers Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho.

Liverpool - not yet mathematically eliminated from qualifying for a Champions League place - were in a good run of form before succumbing to the Saints in the previous fixture. The Reds currently sit in 7th place on 45 points with just 8 fixtures remaining.

Meanwhile, things at Villa Park have been a bit tricky for Paul Lambert. The Villans sit just above the relegation zone in 17th place - 3 points ahead of Wigan.

Two bright spots for Villa this season have been striker Christian Benteke and goalkeeper Brad Guzan. Benteke has found the back of the net 13 times - included two at Anfield - in his first season in English football, while Guzan is fresh off two clean sheets with the United States in World Cup Qualifying this past week.

On the injury front, both Jamie Carragher and Pepe Reina - absent in the defeat at Southampton - are expected back for Liverpool, according to first team coach Mike Marsh. Joe Allen will miss the remainder of the season following surgery on his shoulder.

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Wasn't a thread for this, so here it is.

Another game that if we win, 4th is back on, if we lose the Mayan prophecy will come true and the world will end. I have paid £85 for a ticket so we better F***ing turn up and show our best, either way I am going to sing my heart out and get leathered.

COYR

 We owe Villa a good hiding after that Anfield debacle,it is time to get back to winning ways.

6-1 Liverpool.

Looking forward to this game but might end up missing it as my daughter's moving house this weekend and no doubt I'll be called in to help out 

I'm expecting a win for the Reds as always, don't care how we achieve it but 3 points is a must.

Cant see saurez playing due to jet lag,beware of villa they could produce a shock result. Look at the last game against the saints, we have to get attacking right away and get a quick couple of goals.Pick reds to win 2-1 though.

Cant see saurez playing due to jet lag

You are joking right? I can't imagine there's anything barring a serious injury that keeps Luis from playing.

I'm calling for 2 goals from our main man.

Did he not come from playing in high altitude in Bolivia midweek to play the full game at the weekend for us earlier in the season? He's in top condition, won't bother him at all.

Another away game against another relegation threatened team. Just hope Brendan have learned from the Southampton debacle and think hard how to handle Villa. Villa will play like their lives are at stake cause their PL future is hanging in the balance. I think we need to match Villa's desire first and foremost to begin the chance of winning this game. Come On Liverpool!

Another game i am not confident at all. I really fear it will be Bentekke show.

Can't call this one, cause we're consistently very inconsistent. 

We should collect the 3 points IF, everyone turns up to put in a proper and decent shift.

Cant see saurez playing due to jet lag

Have you been living under a rock for the last few years?

                                   Reina
Johnson       Carragher        Agger     Enrique
                 Lucas            Gerrard        Henderson
                Coutinho       Sturridge      Suarez

MUST have Reina Carrahger and Agger together for this to get the win. Bentekke would bully Skrtel yet again and give away silly free-kicks. I think Sturridge owes us a big game he has been missing the last couple of games and need to have lucas henderson and gerrard as our 3 midfielders. Johnson also had a poor game at Southampton but didnt they all but he was also bad for England mid-week. Just hope we can bounce back like we have done from a shock defeat. Come on you REDS!!!

Reina; Johnson, Carra, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Henderson; Downing, Suarez, Coutinho.

F**k knows which Liverpool team will turn up though!

What I'd like to see.
Sometimes we are found wanting in the centre.
I'd like to see Henderson brought in, similar to the floating mid/att role he played before Coutinho took the place.
Would offer us more in midfield. If we don't get an early goal we often get pressed back and Lucas and Gerrard
own their own gets overrun. Henderson, not in a 10 but the floating mid/att role, would help to that end.






Might look something like that.
I think that sometimes when we set up with this 4-2-3-1 or 4-2-1-3 that we have played lately, with Suarez almost like a 10, that we have left Lucas and Gerrard with too much to do.

I like the look of that Racer and the thing about Suarez is that you can play him anywhere in an attacking role and he will be effective but he never gives the protection Jordan would give in your formation.

                  Reina
      Carragher       Agger
Johnson                      Enrique
                  Lucas
     Henderson     Gerrard
                Coutinho
         Sturridge    Suarez.

Let this attacking trio interchange between them and they will cause havoc to their defence.

Going to be a tough game at Villa Park this weekend, after the fiasco at Southampton, I hope we start playing from the first whistle not when we're a goal or two down 

Think we'll nab it by 2 goals to 1, want to see some passion from the lads when they pull on that black away kit on Sunday, hopefully the lads who have been involved with international duty this week are all back and injury free.

Match: Aston Villa v Liverpool

Date: 31th March 2013

Time: 13:30

Competition: Premier League

Form: Aston Villa - WWLLW    Liverpool - LWWWL

Last Meeting: Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

Both teams and managers have young squads, are going through transitional periods and won't be happy with the season overall so far. Aston Villa would have been wanting a season safe from a dog fight at the bottom but the inexperience of the squad and a reliance on one player means they sit just above the drop zone in 17th just 3 points above the drop zone but did hit some form ahead of the International break. They won two relegation six pointers against Reading and QPR but this game will be a lot bigger of a test. The key to winning is as always, Benteke. Carragher might be able to keep hold of him for this game and he should be starting but if Skrtel is in defence again, there could be an opportunity for Villa. Of course, the likes of Johnson had a poor game against Southampton and his confidence might be down after England's draw against Montenegro. There are areas Villa can target but their defence could be suspect up against Suarez, Sturridge, Downing and Coutinho. They should be looking for 3 points though.

Liverpool probably didn't want an international break after the defeat against Southampton. The match was a blow after 3 straight wins. I don't expect a line-up any different to: Reina, Johnson, Carra, Agger, Enrique, Lucas, Gerrard, Coutinho, Downing, Suarez and Sturridge. Seems to be the best line-up at the moment and hopefully there can be some momentum until the end of the season. I think European Football and a good run in it next season is a must to keep hold of Suarez. I wouldn't blame him if he left, it just seems they're aren't many player out there like him, I think he'll stay for another season though. The goal now is 6th, which I think gets Europa League football. But it's best to try finish as high in the table as possible, the rest of the games this season are winnable but the LFC of recent years will make hard work of it, as usual. Let's just hope we can get 6th at least.

Tough game to call but I think LFC should win it. Although a draw seems likely.

We should win.... but depends if we decide to show up or not

Probably liverpool will be flat if villa score first,games after  international breaks generally see a form dip.

After feeling very confident we would get a win over Southampton, I am not so sure about this one.
I don't think we will lose, but I do think a draw is a strong possibility.
Hopefully I am wrong and we bounce back in style!
Just glad the International break is over. I hate them.