Team for Villa

[memzey]

--------------------Pepe---------------------
Arbeloa-------Carra-------Agger---------Aurelio
----------Masch---------Alonso---------------
----Kuyt----------Keane-----------Babel------
----------------Torres------------------------

That's the team I'd like to see as well.

[Kenneth]

That's the team I'd like to see as well.

What does Skrtel have to do to get in your first team?

[Craig_H]

Hang on, shouldn't you be in hospital?

Honestly mate, i feel like i literally died last night and came back to life just before the point of no return. Last time i was so tense, it was Istanbul.

10 minutes after the game, my hand was still slightly shaking. Why do they do it to us?

[Craig_H]

Rafa:

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Aurelio
Kuyt Mascherano Alonso Benni
Keane Torres

Me:

Reina
Arbeloa Carragher Skrtel Dossena
Pennant Mascherano Alonso Aurelio
Keane Torres

So what you're saying is that we've finally found someone who is actually more cautious and defensive than Rafa?

[The_weatherman]

So what you're saying is that we've finally found someone who is actually more cautious and defensive than Rafa?

It's just that everyone else is playing ****, i.e. Babel, Benny and Kuyt. Think we should bench them and see what happens, although Babel just recently came back to the fold....

When we some width, we play better, it seems to be that simple, so let's start with players who can whip in crosses.

[Craig_H]

It's just that everyone else is playing ****, i.e. Babel, Benny and Kuyt. Think we should bench them and see what happens, although Babel just recently came back to the fold....

When we some width, we play better, it seems to be that simple, so let's start with players who can whip in crosses.

I was only joking around with you mate

[memzey]

--------------------Pepe---------------------
Arbeloa-------Carra-------Agger---------Aurelio
----------Masch---------Alonso---------------
----Kuyt----------Keane-----------Babel------
----------------Torres------------------------

That's the team I'd like to see as well.

What does Skrtel have to do to get in your first team?

Yeah, maybe Skrtel for Agger then

[MrMichael]

Babel has to start mate.

I don't think he will, and if he does he'll get subbed on or just before 60mins (you can put your house on that). Personally, if he's not ready to make 90 minutes yet, I'd prefer him coming on when the game might be stretching out than starting when its tight.

Honestly mate, i feel like i literally died last night and came back to life just before the point of no return. Last time i was so tense, it was Istanbul.

10 minutes after the game, my hand was still slightly shaking. Why do they do it to us?

Its like the inevitable law of lfc supporting, we just can't do it easy.

Could be worse, could support Everton and not do it at all

[SB]

Seeing that MON had the luxury of resting some of his players on Thursday with this match in mind, I'm more that a bit worried.We of course had to play 24hrs earlier but most of the team played for 120 mins. With that in mind I would make a few replacements to the 'normal' starting X1 ( if their is such a thing? )

Pepe
Arbeloa Carra Agger Dossena
Masher
Pennant Xabi Plesis Babel
Torres

Subs
keeper
Lucas for plesis
Benny
Skittles
Kuyt
Fabio
Keane

If Torres is knackered then I'd be happy to see Babel given a run up front also.

[SB]

Aston Villa v Liverpool preview
by Ben Blackmore, 29 August 2008
Have your say Read comments

Aston Villa v Liverpool preview


Gareth Barry is a major doubt for Sunday’s clash with Liverpool - not because of injury - but because a certain Rafa Benitez is likely to hijack his advances towards the home dressing room.

Benitez is likely to be casting an envious glance in the direction of the Aston Villa midfielder, for whom he cancelled summer holidays and pawned jewellery in order to try and buy.

Liverpool are also without their skipper Steven Gerrard, highlighting the lack of Barry in what will be a weakened Reds midfield.

Javier Mascherano does return along with Lucas Leiva, and Benitez could use both alongside Xabi Alonso if he chooses to revert back to the 4-3-3 formation that served him so well last season.

Liverpool have been uninspiring so far this season, but the presence of Ryan Babel – who made such a telling impact on Wednesday – and Mascherano, could just see a return to more settled ways for Benitez’s men.

Villa, by contrast, have been in fine goalscoring form this season, netting six in two league matches, whilst adding another five in their last two Uefa Cup matches.

If reports are to be believed, James Milner is on his way to the Midlands, although he will have a job bumping Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor from the Villa flanks.

Defence will be a worry for Martin O’Neill, who has seen his team concede five in two league matches, and they have kept just one clean sheet at home in their past 13 outings.

Villa Park is a favourite ground of Liverpool’s, they are unbeaten in 10 visits conceding just three goals, and Villa have won just one of the past 18 league encounters home and away.

Watch out for the potential impact of Nabil El Zhar. Liverpool have not scored without him on the pitch so far this season.

PIVOTAL PLAYER: John Carew. The big striker will need to give Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel a nightmare afternoon if Villa are to impose themselves.

PREDICTION: 0-1

Agree or disagree? Let us know who you think will be the key man and what the score will be using the feedback form at the bottom of the page.

Take advantage of our exclusive half-price online offer to sign up to Setanta Sports (terms and conditions apply).

Click here for all the latest injury news from the two clubs through our partnership with physioroom.com.

Sign up to our partners IFan to select YOUR starting line-up for the game.
Team Aston Villa Liverpool
Games Played 2 2
Goal Attempts
Goals 6 3
Ave Goals per game 3.00 1.50
Shots (excl blocked shots) 17 24
% Shots on Target 53% 33%
% Goals to Shots 35% 12%
Passing
Short Passes 530 767
Long Passes 96 168
Overall Pass Completion % 76% 77%
Crossing
Total Crosses 42 60
Cross Completion % 29% 15%
Defending
Goals Conceded 5 1
Ave goals conceded per game 2.50 0.50
Tackles 43 57
Tackles Won % 72% 72%
Blocks, Clearances & Interceptions 143 106
Discipline
Fouls 16 23
Yellow Cards 0 4
Red Cards 0 0

[Ballykissdevil]

Interesting how a whole lot of you are dropping Aurelio when he was our best player the other day.

[The_weatherman]

Interesting how a whole lot of you are dropping Aurelio when he was our best player the other day.

I think we really need him against Villa, gives us composure and crosses, very underrated player IMO.

[kev776]

---------------------------------Pepe


------------Carra---------------Dagger-----------Skittle


---------------------Scabby--------------Mascher

Gerrard-------------------------------------------------------Plessis


-----Keane---------------------Torres--------------------Babel




Winner!!!

[Ben_Itez]

Think Rafa will go for summat like this

Reina
Carra Skrtel Agger Dossena
Mascherano Alonso
Kuyt Lucas Aurelio
Torres

Subs:

Cavalieri
Keane
Babel
El Zhar
Arbeloa
Benayoun
Ngog

Keeping it supertight for the first 60 mins then bringing on babel and perhaps Keane for the last half hour when things open up.

1-2 to us.

[Rafa_el_Gafa]

Interesting how a whole lot of you are dropping Aurelio when he was our best player the other day.

Best post here all day, you were obviously watching the same game as me.