Aston Villa v Liverpool FC, Villa Park – Sunday 4th October 2020, 19:15 KO Referee: Martin AtkinsonAssistants: Constantine Hatzidakis, Richard WestFourth official: David CooteVAR: Jon MossAssistant VAR: Stephen ChildThe last of our opening four games before the International break – god knows what that will bring in terms of the Covid situation, but we’ll park that for another day.It’s been an excellent start with 3 wins from 3 and our last two league games have been very dominant against two potential rivals. However Villa also have a 100% record after two league games, albeit they’ve played a very poor Fulham and Sheffield United who had 10 men for the majority.No doubt last season’s late late show in the league at Villa Park helped fuel the fire that last year was going to be the one where we finally regained the title. Hopefully things won’t be quite as tight this time round. We’ll ignore the League Cup game there last December where we were forced to field kids as our first team were in Qatar. The last time we didn’t pick up 3 points there was a 1-0 defeat in 2011 thanks to a Stewart Downing goal. Our only loss there since 1998.They spent a bit in the summer bringing in Ollie Watkins, Bertrand Traore, Emiliano Martinez & Matty Cash for decent sums, with Ross Barkley also joining on loan, with no significant departures (sorry Pepe!). So they should be a stronger team this year, albeit for me one that is likely to still be fighting relegation unless Watkins can score the goals required to avoid this.Last season they averaged just over a goal a game but conceded 67, the second most in the league, however like others they seem to have concentrated on strengthening other areas than their defence.Can’t say I know loads about Villa, and there aren’t loads of classic encounters between us, but I do recall an Ian Rush hatrick at Villa Park in 1984. It includes a brilliant left foot volley (best seen from behind the goal) and was completed with a volleyed lob after a great piece of control off his thigh. Certainly worth searching out the footage if you’ve never seen them before.Some selection headache’s for Jurgen this week, with Mane & Thiago missing due to positive Covid tests (Get well soon lads), and Henderson looks like being a last minute decision.Goes without saying Mane is a big miss, but Diogo Jota has looked good so far and having scored on his Anfield debut so is likely to come in I’d imagine. Other than that I suspect it’ll be the same line up as against Arsenal on Monday unless Henderson is fit and comes in.Clearly we’re stronger on paper everywhere on the pitch, and the early evidence is there has been no let up in desire or intensity from last season, this should continue on Sunday and if we play as well as we have so far this should be a comfortable win, in what is now a must win game, after the Everton result!Come on Red Men, we must keep up the pressure on the title favourites from over the park. (Tongue firmly in cheek – although to be fair they have made a good start).
Two teams are coming out, to some very loud music. What the hell are they playing sounds like someone in pain.
3 Watkins scores for Villa, no surpise they have been quicker than us. We lost the ball really carelessly not a surprise.
100 percent on Adrian that
8 A chance there for Barkley he really should have scored only eight yards out, fooled Van Dijk there.
Salah knocked down in the penalty area - Atkinson and Moss screw us over
Commentator reckons it's probably a penalty but Moss probably thinks it wasn't a 'clear and obvious error'These officials are fucking useless
Bobby looking sharp, causing problems. Good recovery from a poor start
Bollocks. Spoke too soon (you don’t have to post this!)
