Aston Villa V Liverpool pre match thread. Sat 24th Aug. 5:30 KO

I don't see this being an easy game. Villa don't look like pushovers. I expect Liverpool to win around 2-0.
I would go with,

                       Sturridge

Coutinho                             Aspas
           Gerrard Lucas Hendo

   Enrique Agger Toure Johnson

                     Mignolet

Subs: Jones,  Skrtel, Cissokho, Alberto,  Allen, Borini

I think Sterling and Ibe aren't ready yet.

After the way they've played against Arsenal I think this is going to be a tricky game. Given our apparent lack of finishing I think this will be a tight one with 1-0 to us.

WOOOO!

Aston Villa are a very good side judging from their two games. Beat Arsenal and deserved a draw against Chelsea.

We need to play well to beat them and Benteke will be a threat. Need Kolo and Agger to play well. They have lots of pace too so they will be dangerous on the break.

We can't afford to lose though. Got to get some momentum and they've played a midweek game so the players might be a little tired towards the end.

I can't see us being able to contain Benteke I'm expecting a similar affair to this fixture at the back end of last season, end to end. Hopefully we will score more than they do.

 I fancy us strong. We're a good team, if it hadn't been for Begovic we'd have won three or four at the weekend. 3-0 here.

Villa have looked dangerous, but to be fair it was more about poor defending from Arsenal that led to the first peno, and the 2nd peno subsequent red card and final goal were all a bit fortunate for Villa. 

If we can play the way we did against Stoke by dominating possession and creating loads of chances then I fancy us to win quite comfortably.  However, an early goal from them could see this turn into a real dogfight!!

I'd play the same team we played against Stoke, and I expect us to win.  Going for 3-0 with a Sturridge brace and Aspas getting his first of the season!!

We have a good record at Villa park and seems they are set up to hit teams on the break.

Can see us having majority of possession and as long as we keep it tight at the back no reason we pick up another 3 points here.

Have done really well to forget the horror result against these guys at Anfield back in December. They did similar to Arsenal on Saturday. Had to update my brother on the score and the texts were apologetic as hell!

 I think we've come on leaps and bounds since then however which was marked in the 2-1 result at Villa Park back in April. BUT the Anfield result back in December must act as a canny reminder that it is important to put these guys to bed when we are on top because BAM they can have one counter attack and then they score. It's very clever management by Lambert I must say.

We like to play with high defensive lines so does that mean we will have to drop back to counter the threat of Benteke and Agbonlahor and their counter attack or do we keep the high line and play our own game? Dilemma.

Looking forward to this game, my first away game for over a season (so hard to get tickets) but thanks to a very good friend, I will be cheering the lads on at Villa Park with the travelling kop 

Going to be a tough game, even harder than against Stoke last Sat, hoping we pulverise their goal and a few more actually go in this time, a first away win would be good and i'm going for a 2-1 to the redmen.

And I'd keep the same team as last week, why change a winning formula 

Come on you REDS, do us proud 


Poll Added

Going to be a tricky game, Villa did really well in both their tough games so far. Really need to watch them on the counter especially.

Mignolet; Wisdom, Toure, Agger, Enrique; Lucas, Gerrard, Hendo; Aspas, Sturridge, Coutinho.

Use Ibe and Sterling from the bench if we need a goal.

Villa's pacey counterattacking football, beat the arse, and gave chelsea a few problems. Think we might struggle and i've gone for the draw. Hope Brendan can come up with a tactical masterplan to beat these and I'll be assured he really is the man for us.

Not really looking forward to this game. Going to be tricky. Would have been confident normally playing against this lot as we have a good record home and away against them, but the thought of Bendteke up front for them has me feeling a little bit uncomfortable.

I'm still going for a 2-1 win to us because I could never tip against us. Sturridge and Aspas to get on the scoresheet.

Let's do this lads.

Always a tough game against Villa and theyve looked very good against ARSEnal and Chelsea, think if we can mark Benteke out the game (easier said than done) we stand a VERY good chance of a win.

                        Mignolet
     Johnson   Toure   Agger   Enrique
                   Gerrard   Lucas
                      Henderson
              Aspas          Coutinho
                        Sturridge

Jones; Kelly, Cissokho; Allen, Alberto; Borini, Sterling

Realistically I think it'll be a hard-fought draw, but a win would be very good for us, especially going into the United game. But 1-1 I think, Aspas + Benteke.

It's good for us that they played a tough game away to Chelsea in midweek so I'd like to think we should be that little bit sharper for than them for this one. We've got a great record at Villa Park, in fact it must be one of our happiest hunting grounds along with St James Park. I could see us drawing this 2-2.

I would expect us to stick with the. Same side as our opener.

 I have fond memories of Villa Park from the semi final in 1965,in that match we beat Chelsea 2-0.A similar result against Villa will do just fine,We have got to aim for 3 points in all these early matches.

Decent start for Villa, although they have had two games already this week.

We should make the most of our fitness advantage, and I'd be very disappointed if we dropped points against them.

Oh yes, a football match to talk about rather than the drivel inspired transfer news. Extremely cautious about this game. We could as easily blow them away as get beat in the same fashion. How we handle Benteke is the key factor in this match. Im guessing it will be Kolo who looks after him (or at least tries) with Agger sweeping up behind. Lucas will have a busy day i predict. Knock downs from Benteke and keeping as eye on runners from midfield. Have to play our strengths and use our fluent game to get behind the sometimes naive back line of Villa, Coutinho especially could flourish once more against Villa. Its important that we do not let Villa get wind in their sales, they clearly operate with pace and enthusiasm so stifling that will be beneficial.

I think 3 excellent performances will be push for Villa.  I think we will win this by 2 goals.  I'll go 3-1 too. 

Need to keep the momentum going at Villa Park, after last week's win, another 3 points would be great 2 - 1 for the Reds.

With the mancs up next it's vital imo to get 3 points here. I can see a few goals in this one too.

A hard fought win is my prediction.

same again teamwise, hope we can cope with Villa's physical style of play and Benteke who isn't really my cup of tea but a real handful.

Sadly I think Benteke will be too strong for us and I'm going for a draw.

I've gone for the win but this game could show up our defensive weaknesses. Benteke and Gabby are the obvious danger men.

A side that plays counter attacking will always be difficult for us because of our high line so I'd like to see Henderson to start for his willingness to get back.