Topic: Rawk Preview: Aston Villa v Liverpool, Saturday 24th August

[exiledinyorkshire]

Yet they lost to a pretty one dimensional Chelsea team. In case you forgot we have Lucas, Gerrard, Agger and Toure

It's Lucas I worry about in this one mate.

Come on Lucas lad !

[Tomo!]

Think Touré will show what a shrewd bit of business getting him in was on Saturday.

[Ronster]

Benteke - what a monster!  This guy is definitely worth 35 million.  Guaranteed menace around the box, great with his feet and head and does the play-acting as well.  A total package for a guy who is 22-years-old.    Come on Ayre, do your job and unsettle this chap with a bid on Friday!

Pure shithouse. This is why people in trenches, like you, shouldn't have whistles. They've done well to stave off bids for Bentake and we should show some solidarity with teams like Villa and Newcastle. Like us they're trying to keep up in damn near impossible financial circumstances.

[artanis]

I like our chances. We are quicker on the pass then Chelsea, and in all honesty Villa have a thin squad so a third game in a week against top opposition will be too much on them. Also Benteke is a large lad so expect him to be extra tired.

[Caligula?]

Fuck me, villa are a bunch of dirty c*nts. Stoke and the villa first two up, if we come away with 6 points from that, then utd will get done and all.

Come on Liverpool!

Pass these fuckers off the park.

I thought Chelsea were worse to be honest, that twat Ivanovic should have been sent off on at least two seperate occasions. Other than Benteke they don't strike me as an overly physical team, so that's at least one aspect that we can cope with without a problem.

[Ghostface]

Pure shithouse. This is why people in trenches, like you, shouldn't have whistles. They've done well to stave off bids for Bentake and we should show some solidarity with teams like Villa and Newcastle. Like us they're trying to keep up in damn near impossible financial circumstances.

Benteke's signed a new deal anyway, he has to at least play another season with Villa.

[Ghostface]

Yet they lost to a pretty one dimensional Chelsea team. In case you forgot we have Lucas, Gerrard, Agger and Toure

They were shite against Villa but Chelsea especially first half against Hull debunks the one dimensional theory.

[farawayred]

No reason we can't beat them, with Coutinho, Sturbridge and Aspas we will carve them open. We just need to take our chances when they come and we'll walk away with 3 points.

Surely that's what Mourinho's "aggressive Chelsea" must have thought but escaped narrowly with the 3 pts at the Bridge (and with luck from an own goal). And Chelsea are far better in taking their chances than us. To win, and win away, we really need to be absolutely clinical. I hope Sturridge is even fitter and bags a few  of the many chances we will undoubtedly have.

[Advil]

Being fresh means nothing it certainly does not guarantee a result for us.

Yup. Still remember people here being happy when we went out of Europe previously saying 'now we can concentrate on the league'. It does not always means that we will perform better.

[88_RED]

I thought Chelsea were worse to be honest, that twat Ivanovic should have been sent off on at least two seperate occasions. Other than Benteke they don't strike me as an overly physical team, so that's at least one aspect that we can cope with without a problem.

We couldn't cope last season at Anfield or at Villa Park... they are still pretty much the same side barring the odd addition. This will be a very tough match. They would have picked up more confidence even after defeat at Chelsea. Given their first 3 fixtures, their fans would be delighted with 4 points and over the moon with 6.

We have to be on top of our game and not underestimate them or think of them as a one man team... Agbonlahor has started off in fantastic form and can hurt us with his pace... Wiemann is tricky and knows where the back of the net is... In many ways this is a bigger test then Stoke on day 1.

[thew]

Great OP – “Hear me now”!

Agbonlahor, Benteke and Weimann will be tough to keep quiet – we’ll have to be on the top of our game… I’m very glad they have had the extra match. Expect to see the exact same team as against Stoke. 0-2 Sturridge and Hannah.

[elpistolero7]

Great OP – “Hear me now”!

Agbonlahor, Benteke and Weimann will be tough to keep quiet – we’ll have to be on the top of our game… I’m very glad they have had the extra match. Expect to see the exact same team as against Stoke. 0-2 Sturridge and Hannah.

 

[thew]

[Acapulco]

Midfield could be a problem for us. Al Amahdy is looking outstanding for the and Delph not to far behind.They have the pace and consequently the power to out tackle us in there and the work rate throughout the team is exceptional.
I agree Henderson should start and also share the concerns that Lucas lack of pace could be a problem.
They were cheated last night and will certainly be up for a battle. They know we are the more skilful team so will obviously be out to stop us playing. Hope we have a strong ref.

[Zoomers]

I can't wait for this game, it will truly test if we have become a better side. I'd go with the same line up as Stoke and bring on Borini at the 60th mark or so.

[Thog]

Midfield could be a problem for us. Al Amahdy is looking outstanding for the and Delph not to far behind.They have the pace and consequently the power to out tackle us in there and the work rate throughout the team is exceptional.
I agree Henderson should start and also share the concerns that Lucas lack of pace could be a problem.
They were cheated last night and will certainly be up for a battle. They know we are the more skilful team so will obviously be out to stop us playing. Hope we have a strong ref.

Mark Clattenburg.

[Pistolero]

cant fuckin stand Gabby - hands behind the ears, clap the ref for sending players off - Agbonlahor....hope Gerrard clatters the jut-jawed twat 5 mins in

[Get]

Mark Clattenburg.

Shithouse, easily affected by the home crowd. Villa will get many decisions for, while we against.

[EstonianRed]

Villa has showed some great football in the start of the season and its not gonna be easy, but hope for the 3 points

[justsean]

Had a dream we beat them 1 - 0 last night. My dreams have never been wrong before - it's the first one I ever had.

Aspas scored the goal, me with the assist. Get in!

[Roady]

some very confident fans on here! I think this is going to be extremely difficult. Id be delighted with a win, got a feeling it may be a score draw.A very tough fixture

[Chip Evans]

Even though they probably have the players to get around the sides of us I'd be tempted to go 3-5-2 for this one at least for an hour. It should allow us to still play the high line and take the pressure off Lucas in transition when they counter. I'd like to think the extra body would go some way to nullifying the threat from the straight ball to Benteke, and also give Mignolet an extra option to pass to should he still feel a little nervous with the ball at his feet with pressure on his decision.  Should maybe take the pressure off Johnson on the counter too and I'd be confident Enrique could handle the up and down nature of his role also.

Also it would allow Coutinho license to roam at the tip of the midfield but the major drawback being I would probably leave Henderson out until reverting back to our standard system on the hour. I find he (Henderson) is one of the main standard bearers when we press well so I realise it is tough to leave his energy out.  I think a front two of Sturridge and Aspas would have enough movement to cause all sorts of problems and we'd also have the flexibility in attack to go 3-4-3 on the counter.

Mignolet - Johnson - Kolo - Agger - Wisdom/Skrtel - Enrique - Lucas - Gerrard - Coutinho - Aspas - Sturridge

Then again, we're coming off a decent first win and performance and everyone probably deserves to keep their shirt.  I'm just a little worried about Villa as I rate Lambert quite highly and these were exactly the sort of smash and grab merchants we struggled against early last season. 3-5-2 done properly might give us the platform for later in the game when our pacy kids come off the bench. 

[Upinsmoke]

Gonna be a tough game, Toure needs to do a job on Benteke and i'm quitely confident he can. He's a big bastard but i reckon our Kolo is up for it.

Same team as stoke i reckon.

[steveeastend]

I expect the players to show the right attitude in order to win this game with everything they got.

Please no more half arsed performance like there were ones last season. Johnson, Enrique and whoever is on the pitch should be aware that EVERY game is like a final at the moment without european football.

[edmundljs]

scared shit of benteke,scared shit of villa,scared shit of spurs,scared shit of levy,scared shit of god knows what else,,,


when did all this happen

This coming from planet terror...

[Caston]

Ive just read a Villa fan thinks they can come top 6 this season. He will very serious aswell.

[lfcbob]

I think we'll do these 2-0 Kolo to keep Benteke quiet

[surfer. Fuck you generator.]

The majestic Redmen will have too much for puny Villa. Expect the weak willed Villans to cower before the dashing feet of the little wizard Coutinho, as Agger drinks the blood of that pointless rabbit Weimann. Agbonlahor? What kind of pussy lets people call a man Gabby. He is no match for the raw macho that is Johnson. Their champion of champions, capo di tutti capi, Benteke, is a mere speck of African imported Belgique dust beneath the fat boot of Kolo.

Confidence - For When Reality Can Wait.

[Caffeine]

They look excellent on the break but we will be a different proposition to both Arsenal and Chelsea, especially at Villa Park where there is more impetus on them to play football. I think their defence is no great shakes and if we can get our front 3 or 4 busy and amongst them, we will cause problems. It's the other end of the pitch I worry about. Our weakness still seems to be balls into the box and set pieces, and although Kolo should improve matters, this Benteke guy looks like an absolute monster at the minute. Even if Villa are struggling it looks like he can get a goal out of anything.

[liverpooldas]

Villa look decent on the counter-attack and could score a couple if we throw to many players up when we attack. However, I feel if we take our chances when we get them we will still win. I'm going for a 3-2 win. Sturridge x2, gerrard and benteke x2 for villa.

[robertobaggio37]

Ive just read a Villa fan thinks they can come top 6 this season. He will very serious aswell.

They're the same level as we are don't you know

[elpistolero7]

Will be a nervy game this methinks, we'll dominate posession but they'll have chances on the break. Hopefully Agger, and more concerningly for me Johnson (who I think may get an arse raping from Agbonlahor) must be on their A game.

Not concerned about things at the other end, think with Sturridge, Coutinho and Aspas, we'll definitely get 1 or 2 goals.

[EmotionalCitrus]

Ive just read a Villa fan thinks they can come top 6 this season. He will very serious aswell.

Not surprising they're on the same level as Newcastle fans when it comes to delusion. Utter cretins the lot of them.

[redan]

Ive just read a Villa fan thinks they can come top 6 this season. He will very serious aswell.

The funny thing is I watched the Arsenal v Villa game with a pub full of Villa fans and when Giroud scored they were all moaning saying 'here we go again' 'another season of relegation trouble' etc. By the end they were dancing about like they'd won the FA Cup singing 'we want champions league' and I over heard one person say we'll 100% beat Liverpool because we've just beaten Arsenal and Arsenal finished above Liverpool last year!!

Yeah mate because thats how football works you complete moron!

[markedasred]

I think getting the first goal will be key in this game. 2-1 either way, and we are favourites, and what we did to Stoke we can do there, home of a fake kop end.

[U can call me Cookie]

The last two Villa matches may have played into our hands a little bit.
For years now, we've ended up switching off against teams we thought we could beat easily.
I'm sure the team, this time, is under no illusions that this weekend is going to be an easy ride.
They're going to be up for it.

[the_red_pill]

Some people are overestimating our team and underestimating Villa. Will be very difficult to get a result, tonight they impressed me yet again. Very decent team that.

Look Villa's good, but so are we. Like any other team, they are good in some departments while not so good at others.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Even though we don't like saying it- WE ARE expected to beat them and we can.


Last seaosn they really did a number on us and Chelsea(IIRC?)- both 3-1 wins after some frantic, extremely well executed counter-attacking, and they did it to Arsenal as well.
We would've learned our lesson there, I'm sure. Don't fanny around with those cocksuckers, they'll bite you in the ass- get in there, be focussed and get the goods.

[SlowRap]

Can we go three at the back to cope with Benteke? Watching Chelsea he isolated Ivanovic and fought him to win the long passes and Ivanovic was playing right back.


---------------Mignolet---------
------Wisdom---Toure---Agger
Johnson---------------------------Enrique
-----------Gerrard---Lucas-------------
------------------------Coutinho----------------
--------Aspas-----------------------------------
------------------Sturridge---------------------

Though it will probably be the same line-up as against Stoke

[proudred]

Think we need to be careful of their counter attack,couple of times during the stoke match they had a couple of chances when we were scrambling to get back.And also have Gerrard pushed further forward while Henderson & Lucas  hold the midfield.Also have a feeling either Sterling or Borini might start.

[the_red_pill]

Can we go three at the back to cope with Benteke? Watching Chelsea he isolated Ivanovic and fought him to win the long passes and Ivanovic was playing right back.


---------------Mignolet---------
------Wisdom---Toure---Agger
Johnson---------------------------Enrique
-----------Gerrard---Lucas-------------
------------------------Coutinho----------------
--------Aspas-----------------------------------
------------------Sturridge---------------------

Though it will probably be the same line-up as against Stoke

The thing is it's the supply to the big man that's the problem. As I said a few days ago, I've always seen Andy as the damage dealer there. Agbonlahor... hmmm ...meh... not so much. Johnson can manage him.

Still- if we keep our eyes on those 2 guys by closing the angles, hunting them down in packs(track Weimann and Agbonlahor when Benteke's got the ball or any of their midfielders), keep our eye on the 2 wide man when they pass it long for Benteke- from deep, keep the ball well and just pass, pass, pass they'll be "stifled". Just play our normal game.

If you look at Villa's game up-front, it's the one-two's between Benteke and his wide men- that causes the problems. Benteke on his own is managable- it's the pass from midfield or from wide to Benteke that's the problem and usually Benteke's little pass to a Agbonlahor/Andy that's rushing past the fullback and the final lay-off to Benetke that does the damage. If we keep our eyes on those 2, Mignolet and Kolo should be able to handle Benteke.


Our problem against Villa last season is that we abandoned all caution. Something we didn't really do anymore in the latter half of the season. We turned up with a 3-points-in-the-bag mentality and proceeded to attack relentlessly, because "Villa can't hurt us". More than most other games last season- that was the standout feature of the Villa-game: the relentless wave of attack after attack which came to nothing.





Hmm... that turned out well. Had we faced Villa after a beating from another team, I'm confident, we'd have beaten them as we did the other sides.
I just think we approach the game as we did all away games in the latter half of last season and we'll walk away with a 2-1, 1-0 if we keep our focus. We've got speedy, intelligent, visionary players in our frontline. Perfectly suited to tear teams apart in a counter and so I think we'll do with Villa some times. I think we've improved defensively and we've improved in midfield, so we should really be going in there with focus, work hard and beat these.