Topic: MATCH PREVIEW: Liverpool v Aston Villa, Anfield. Sun 3 Sep 2pm

[kavah]

"Challenge Accepted."

Yes I can imagine a yellow for Trent for taking a quick free kick or looking at him funny 

Thanks Duvva la. Tough game. They have loads of quality. But I expect them to be total c*nts in this game. They will be totally happy with a point. An early goal for us would be a dream.

[Carra-ton]

I think, this might be the game where many things click even without Van Dijk and Konate. Villa might just be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Fitzy.]

Lovely OP.

To emerge with 10 points from the first four games would be great, especially given that the squad has been unsettled with new signings and red cards. Villa look tough. Not going to be straightforward, I suspect.

[Phineus]

Is Konate definitely not fit for this one? Hopefully some positive news on this from Klopps presser soon.

I'd bring in Nunez for Gakpo, keep midfield as it is. Hopefully thiago is on bench.

[rob1966]

Taking the lads to this, they're buzzing to get back on the Kop.

I'll take a scrappy 1-0 win, not going to be an easy game, players need to be smart and do nothing to get a soft yellow card

[Not that Gareth]

Take any kind of win and finishing with 11 men on the pitch. Hopefully get to see a little apearance Gravenberch aswell.

The ref is going to be on an absolute mission to do everything by the book after his suspension, guess that could work for or against us.

Presser shortly so see who is available, hopefully Konate is fit.

[Crosby Nick]

Watkins always does well against us and Bailey and Diaby are pacy. They could be a handful if we don’t set up right.

But going forward we’re looking decent and Mings for all his faults seemed to be their organiser in chief so there should be goals in it for us.

3-1 Reds.

[AndyMuller]

Could Gravy feature?

[Qston]

Villa have played midweek - admittedly with a lot of their starting 11 rested - but with a weeks prep and the feel good factor around the dressing room, I am relatively confident of a win. Good side though villa and with a good manager. Like every other team they will sit deep against us so I am not sure Nunez will start. Seems like a match for Gakpo.

I am with Nick on this one, 3-1 us

[Red Beret]

Here's hoping we are awake from the kick off and don't do anything soft in the first 10 minutes.

Or the first 15 minutes.

Or the whole 90, for that matter.

[Henry Gale]

Looking forward to seen how Matip and Gomez do the weekend. These two will play a lot of minutes this season so it will be interesting how they do. Do we know anymore about Virgils ban yet?

5-2 to us 

[Vote For Pedro]

I'll go conservative. 8-6 to us with a Matip hattrick from corners

[amir87]

Might need to get Trent to play as a more conventional right back otherwise Matip might be gasping for air by half time. Can't expect him to cover the same space Konate has been doing so probably should tweak the system on this occasion.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

Newcastle beat these 5-1. Just saying.

[amir87]

Newcastle beat these 5-1. Just saying.

No way Villa play with that same suicidal high line against us.

[Bend It Like Aurelio]

No way Villa play with that same suicidal high line against us.

No, but the abundance of caution here seems a bit high. They aren't that bad but at the same time, at Anfield, we have to dismantle these.

[StL-Dono]

Is Konate definitely not fit for this one? Hopefully some positive news on this from Klopps presser soon.

I'd bring in Nunez for Gakpo, keep midfield as it is. Hopefully thiago is on bench.

You were maybe optimistic for some reason.  As per Klopp, Konate out, Thiago out.

Jones is available though....

[has gone odd]

It's the return of heavy metal football. Chaos may happen at the back, but our midfielders and attack should have enough to steamroller them into submission, one way or another.

[A-Bomb]

Under Emery these are a decent outfit with a good record. It's gonna be another good test for the lads....

I fucking hate Villa fans, they have some irrational dislike to our football club - so just for that reason i hope we fucking smash them off the pitch.

[Asam]

Villa have real pace and power upfront, will not be an easy game

[Barrow Shaun]

It's the return of heavy metal football. Chaos may happen at the back, but our midfielders and attack should have enough to steamroller them into submission, one way or another.

How I see it too. A bonkers 4-3 or something, this one. (I'd take it.)

[BigCDump]

Could Gravy feature?

Depends. What's your meat and two veg look like?

[keyop]

Thanks for the OP Duvva.

Confident about this one. The way we fought back and beat Newcastle will have done wonders for the team, and there's already a feeling we're building something special again - especially after securing Gravenberch.

Would like a clean sheet and a bit more solidity at the back, which will be harder with no Konate or Virgil. Nunez has to start after his heroics last week, and I think we'll see the same midfield again whilst Gravenberch settles in and others return from injury. Beat these and it'll be 10 points from 4 games, and momentum to build on

Ali, Trent, Matip, Gomez, Robbo, Endo, Mac, Szob, Diaz, Nunez, Salah. We then have Gakpo and Jota off the bench against tired legs.

2-0 to us, International break, then hopefully Virgil, Thiago, Konate, Bajetic and Jones back, plus Gravenberch as another option. Happy days.

[Dr. Beaker]

Depends. What's your meat and two veg look like?

[stockdam]

Depends. What's your meat and two veg look like?

[the_red_pill]

Yeah I was aware of Emery's record. I always confuse him and Tuchel for a second or so whenever we face either, but we've got the upper hand over both, with Emery obviously coming out worse than Tuchel(only since his Chelsea days though).

I really hope PGMOL has had their fill and we can finally look forward to a proper game of footy.

Prediction? They seem to ave done well despite the injuries, and while we have Virgil out, we're a team rejuvenated by our recent mental displays and buoyed further by that feel-good a new signing brings. And seeing that this is at Anfield, I'm gunna go 3-1 with the Kop blaring down on these in vintage fashion. Some scares at the start, but we'll grow into it.

[the_red_pill]

You were maybe optimistic for some reason.  As per Klopp, Konate out, Thiago out.

Jones is available though....

Good.
Soon as he and Elliot came in at Chelsea and Newcastle, we started gaining a foothold and possession spiked in both games.

[Samie]

https://twitter.com/dmlynchlfc/status/1697712213413269523

No real surprise given the timing of the announcement, but Ryan Gravenberch won’t be available to make his debut against Aston Villa on Sunday. Wasn’t registered with the Premier League by their midday deadline.

[eAyeAddio]

Is Konate back? Bajetic to start .....

NO and NO !

[RedG13]

Excited for the game.
Hope Nunez starts, I expect Villa to run a high line.
Also Villa started 4 or 5 players that could start on Sunday on Thursday night and had some main guys come off the bench too.

[Drinks Sangria]

Excited for the game.
Hope Nunez starts, I expect Villa to run a high line.
Also Villa started 4 or 5 players that could start on Sunday on Thursday night and had some main guys come off the bench too.

The first sentence is interesting because so will we, which will leave it congested and compressed in the middle third. They will move the ball side to side to try and pull our defence in different directions before utilising balls over the top to try and release Watkins, who is a threat because of his pace and physicality. Gomez will need to concentrate to the maximum.

I don’t rate Mings at all, but him missing the game means less snide behaviour and danger of injury to our attackers. It does however mean better defenders on the ball and I truly think Nunez is the option, in the same way Watkins will work for them. Get Salah close to him, dropping in and playing as more of a creator than forward and potentially have Szoboszlai as the most advanced midfielder ahead of Mac and Endo.

This will be a real test, looking forward to it.

On another note, is there any news about when the stand will be finished? Looked strange to keep looking over to it during the Bournemouth game with the bare concrete and loads of seats not even in.

[disgraced cake]

This isn't even on TV is it? Could have just played it today at 3pm.

Hope Nunez starts, feel it'll actually help the atmosphere in the ground, raise excitement to see him get at them after last weeks heroics. We'll have to show some defensive discipline with enforced changes and they'll look to pick their moments, but I don't think their defence is very good either, Digne is more of an attacking full back, Torres is still a bit unknown in the league and Konza is bog standard himself, they brought Lenglet in too who never looked good for Barca or Spurs. Get it done any way reds, will set us up well going into the break.

[killer-heels]

This isn't even on TV is it? Could have just played it today at 3pm.

Hope Nunez starts, feel it'll actually help the atmosphere in the ground, raise excitement to see him get at them after last weeks heroics. We'll have to show some defensive discipline with enforced changes and they'll look to pick their moments, but I don't think their defence is very good either, Digne is more of an attacking full back, Torres is still a bit unknown in the league and Konza is bog standard himself, they brought Lenglet in too who never looked good for Barca or Spurs. Get it done any way reds, will set us up well going into the break.

Villa had a europa qualifying game on Thursday. Couldnt have been played today.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Put £15 on Liverpool to get a red card - I get £100

Like printing your own money

[disgraced cake]

Villa had a europa qualifying game on Thursday. Couldnt have been played today.

Ah that's right, had forgotten that

[the_red_pill]

Might need to get Trent to play as a more conventional right back otherwise Matip might be gasping for air by half time. Can't expect him to cover the same space Konate has been doing so probably should tweak the system on this occasion.

We subbed in Quansah for him last time out Amir, so possibly see the same this weekend?

[red1977]

Are Villa going to be brave enough to come to Anfield and push up high squeeze play and try and pin us back like we have seen them do this season?.
If they do they are asking to be hit on the counter with the pace we have got. It's a tough one to predict how they will set up tactically.
One thing is for sure they are handy in attack and will think they can get a result. If we keep things narrow and compact they have the width to hurt us with Cash and Digne, Diaby and Bailey. We will have to set our stall out right, dominate possession and look to get them chasing the ball so we can get at them where they are weakest and thats defensively.
Be a tough game but think Anfield will be a big factor and we ease them off and the game goes our way. Tactically will be interesting.
The Nunez shouts are a good one as that practically stops them playing a high line.

[tubby]

Nunez has to start this one, surely.

[killer-heels]

Nunez has to start this one, surely.

Yep. Big question is whether Jota starts ahead of Diaz.

[Chris~]

Yep. Big question is whether Jota starts ahead of Diaz.

Would it be a shock if it's Gakpo starting and one of him or Nunez wide?