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

[RedG13]

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.

Villa ran both a back 3/5 and back 4 this season, Torrres and Konsa are two of the center backs. Yea Watkins/Diaby are the big concerns.
I expect Matip to start would love to see Quansah start(Would be a huge test for him and dont expect it maybe he gets subbed on late again).
Nunez or Jota a has to start at striker for me, need somebody who runs in behind to stretch this defense not playing to feet as much.
Liverpool should be able to control the game and have the ball more. Emery away record normally leaves a lot to be desired.

[Hazell]

Nice on duvva, thanks for the OP

Still annoyed that Mings wasn't sent off last season at Anfield for his assault on Gakpo but Villa look good under Emery and think they'll cause us some problems tomorrow, hopefully a first clean sheet though and a few for us at the other end. Really hoping Nunez starts and tears them a new one. It's going to happen.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Fuck.Me. Going to a game and all I can think of is the inbred fucking cheat cheating the game.


I remember when I used to love going the game

[robertobaggio37]

Just twat these please.

[Bobsackamano]

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

I'd be surprised if Gakpo started this one, it's 4 into 2 positions and the other 3 are currently in better form. Can't see Diaz not starting on the left so it's between Jota and Nunez for the CF. The competition in these 2 positions is fantastic for us and will give us dynamite from the bench.

[RedG13]

Great OP Duuva.

[Dave McCoy]

Think our home-away splits continue to be extreme and we get a pretty solid victory. Up the Reds!

[Cafe De Paris]

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.

I have noticed brummies in general having a dislike of our club. Some in the media never have a good word to say about us…Must be all those years of hurt with their teams getting tonked by LFC. COME ON THE MIGHTY RED MEN.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Fuck this fucking ref. You bent fucking c*nt.

Just getting in early

You English inbred twat x

[redtel]

Good stuff Duvva 👏

Hoping we score a few scorchers to match what promises to be a hot day.

Shirt sleeve order with lots of red tops on show. Villa seem to do better at Anfield than they do at home against us but last weeks defiant victory shows we are up for anything thrown at us. Thirsty weather requires a few pints which should lubricate everyone to get behind the lads from minute one.

Reckon Emery is still stuck on that one win after tomorrow.

[Red_Mist]

Fuck.Me. Going to a game and all I can think of is the inbred fucking cheat cheating the game.


I remember when I used to love going the game

Could be a self fulfilling prophecy Andy. Don’t get me wrong, some shocking officiating going on in our games and others. But it’ll seem ten times worse if you’re going expecting it and analysing every decision.

Plus, if there’s another massive howler, your head might explode

[JackWard33]

Start Nunez and work back from there

[rafathegaffa83]

Start Nunez and work back from there

Yeah, I think I'd be looking at that as well. Villa will play a high line and Nunez could cause them trouble.

[A-Bomb]

Nunez has to start this one, surely.

Without a doubt, he will be unleashed, i'd be astonished if he's not starting....

Villa have some quick and dangerous players up top, so i'm interested to see what we do at the back without VVD to deal with that threat.

[farawayred]

Yeah, I think I'd be looking at that as well. Villa will play a high line and Nunez could cause them trouble.

For that to work, we should hone the midfield behind him. But we should have had enough sessions to do that. And if we have Jota starting on the left, the press would be better. I love Lucho to bits, but he doesn't press well, and Darwin could take the goal-scoring mantle for this game.

[1892tillforever]

This could be a wild one if they have a proper go. I can't see them playing a high line; it would be carnage if they do it with Salah and Nunez playing.

I think we'll win by two clear goals; remember, that our home record remains boss. As bad as last season was, we lost only once at home, a last minute goal to Leeds.

[Lubeh]

Looking forward to this one as its one of the possible up and coming group teams  Newcastle, Villa, Brighton and maybe Spurs (boo) , along with the usual City, United , Arsenal and Liverpool especially as all the chasers grp can beat anyone on thier day, We did Newcastle if we can do Villa too would be a good start from us with tricky opposition, as for Chelsea ...lol poor Lavia...kinda but not really.

If we want Lavia i reckon next season he will want to leave again, same as Caciedo if they carry on as they are £1.billion spent and already looking bad for them with no strikers, and no creativity and should they put Lavia in too thats a midfield three without any creativity at all

[JRed]

A bit concerning that it’s only the 4th game and we’re already down to Gomez and Matip at CB. Can see Endo playing there at some point today as unlikely Matip will last the full game.
That said, Midfield and attack are looking great so it’ll have to be a high scoring win. 4-2 I reckon.

[MartinSkrtelsBasement]

Would like us to be more structured and take fewer risks to start the game today. Bin of the inverted Trent until we’re settled into the game.

Villa are dangerous and we are still starting slowly. New personnel at the back unlikely to make it an easy transition.

Quality in attack bound to shine through so be patient. Nunez to start, he’ll be busrsting with confidence.

[vicar]

Thanks for the OP.
I am quite excited as I have no idea how we will set up at the front.

Will Nunez get a start? If so, is that part of a 2, or centre of the 3 or even wide of a 3. Would hate not to see Gakpo as I think he is great in that dropped off 9 position that Bobby so nicely filled. But what about Jota, after anonymous parts of games he has flourished and been a big part of the last two wins. Then Diaz scoring in the first two.... and of course you can't leave out Salah.

Defensively, of course, we are one injury short of a crisis again, but hey ho!

Interesting and fun times ahead.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

Thanks for the OP.
I am quite excited as I have no idea how we will set up at the front.

Will Nunez get a start? If so, is that part of a 2, or centre of the 3 or even wide of a 3. Would hate not to see Gakpo as I think he is great in that dropped off 9 position that Bobby so nicely filled. But what about Jota, after anonymous parts of games he has flourished and been a big part of the last two wins. Then Diaz scoring in the first two.... and of course you can't leave out Salah.

Defensively, of course, we are one injury short of a crisis again, but hey ho!

Interesting and fun times ahead.

We'll probably have a player stretchered off after an assault by an official.

[Vote For Pedro]

Perfect day for footy. Let's twat these nob lords

[classycarra]

A bit concerning that it’s only the 4th game and we’re already down to Gomez and Matip at CB. Can see Endo playing there at some point today as unlikely Matip will last the full game.
That said, Midfield and attack are looking great so it’ll have to be a high scoring win. 4-2 I reckon.

I don't think Endo will be tried at centre back for some time (outside of league cup maybe) - at least until he's a bit more caught up in adapting to the league physically and conditioned to our standards (probably a good couple of months based on recent examples like Gakpo).

Don't think it would be very kind to him either, to try it before he's shown he can win his physical battles in midfield. A bit of end of game cover at full back could be an alternative route to him building up to being centre back cover - but personally my guess would be that Quansah and Bajcetic would start at CB before Endo

[aka_da_saus]

 i really don't like pau torres . So slow and poor in air , great on ball mind . Villa prob play high enlighten line it's made for nunez destroy him in same channel he destroyed the saudis .

[ToneLa]

want Nunez to start
Salah obviously
Szoboszlai is probably the new guy I'm most excited about so far

Can't have Gravenberch today he wasn't registered in time

Defence ummm starting to worry a bit, but let's see what the gaffer does

[So… Howard Philips]

Just seen Martinez is a doubt. Yeah right.

And let’s see how long it is before he gets a mild reproach for egregious time wasting.

[disgraced cake]

A bit concerning that it’s only the 4th game and we’re already down to Gomez and Matip at CB. Can see Endo playing there at some point today as unlikely Matip will last the full game.
That said, Midfield and attack are looking great so it’ll have to be a high scoring win. 4-2 I reckon.

If Matip genuinely can't finish a game this early into the season, after playing all throughout pre-season and then not playing for 7 days, I think we'd have moved him on. Last week I half understand it as we'd been under pressure all day and he'd not played a part in the first couple of games but surely he's alright going forward? A few games a week obviously won't suit him when European games begin but we should have Van Dijk and Konate back by then.

Just seen Martinez is a doubt. Yeah right.

And let’s see how long it is before he gets a mild reproach for egregious time wasting.

Hopefully Olsen has to play, Martinez is obviously well better. Another reason to go with Darwin either way, get him in behind and get him firing on goal again like he did when he first joined. If last week was anything to go by we may see a more clinical Nunez this season and if that's the case we're going to see the version of him who promises to be sensational

[DiggerJohn]

Nunez Nunez 2 more please

[classycarra]

If Matip genuinely can't finish a game this early into the season, after playing all throughout pre-season and then not playing for 7 days, I think we'd have moved him on. Last week I half understand it as we'd been under pressure all day and he'd not played a part in the first couple of games but surely he's alright going forward? A few games a week obviously won't suit him when European games begin but we should have Van Dijk and Konate back by then.

think it's more a case of risk (of injury) minimisation that saw him come off - and might see the same again today - rather than a genuine inability to keep going until the final whistle

as you say, 7 day break after proper high intensity performance (ie not preseason) will have increased his capacity for today. on the point of his tiring quickly last week being understandable, i think that counterintuitively he might have needed to cover a lot less ground than the position usually demands in a competitive/tight game because of going down to ten and playing much narrower and deeper than we would ever normally do. i do think that your point on ten men covers Endo looking goosed quite early though - assuming he starts today I'd expect he can play a lot longer today if called upon to

[Oskar]

Three points and no red cards would do nicely.

Think Elliott, Jota and Nunez all made very strong cases last week to start this one, still wouldn't be surprised if the only chance is Gomez for VVD.

It's going to be a tough game, they're a disciplined side with enough quality going forward to hurt anyone.

[hide5seek]

Nunez deserves a start.
Would be nice  for him to get another goal  or 2 today.

[Dr. Beaker]

Alisson to be sent off early on - probably for their 'keeper wasting time, or something equally strange. Failing that, two red cards.

Scoreline, who knows? Haven't really thought about that bit yet.

[Adeemo]

Big chance to put a bit of daylight between ourselves and Chelsea and Newcastle. Arsenal and United playing each other afterwards as well. The table could look good for us, going into the international break.

[Felch Aid]

Just win.

Have a feeling Klopp will still want Gakpo down the middle and dropping into midfield with Nunez plan B if we need a goal

Can see Villa sitting back and exposing the slightly fragile Defence

Can see a tense 2  - 0

[Chris~]

Feels like a while since we had a no frills, 2-0 win. Wolves last year whenever that was? Would be nice to see something like that today

[jacobs chains]

Should be an easy win for us. Villa have one chance, the officials. Szoboszlai due a goal.

[killer-heels]

I believe we will win but just a reminder that a draw isnt the end of the world. Just avoid defeat and its a solid start.

[Bobinhood]

Excited to see what we can do with 11 men at home 

[rocco]

We had one red card last season in the premier league , not expecting one today

[DangerScouse]

Should be an easy win for us. Villa have one chance, the officials. Szoboszlai due a goal.

I think you are underestimating this Villa team under Emery. They have a few players thay are capable of troubling us today.