Aston Villa (A) - Match Thread

[StevenGerrardFan]

Preview: Aston Villa (a)
August 31, 2008

Gareth Barry will welcome Liverpool to Villa Park for the first time after a prolonged transfer saga, this afternoon.

Skipper Steven Gerrard will be out for close to two weeks due to a groin injury, therefore missing this game and probably the Manchester United clash as well.

Red Olympians Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva will be back for the game. Lucas is set to start from the bench whereas although Mascherano will get the nod to partner Xabi Alonso in midfield.

Sami Hyypia is still recovering from his hamstring injury and it is likely that either Martin Skrtel or Daniel Agger will link up with Jamie Carragher at the back.

Ryan Babel is also likely to feature in the game with Yossi Benayoun set to sit on the subs bench.

Aston Villa will now have all their players 100% fit for this clash after resting most of their first eleven mid-week against FH Hafnarfjordur.

Possible Team:

Starting XI: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Dossena, Kuyt, Mascherano, Alonso, Babel, Keane, Torres.
Subs: Cavalieri, Agger, Aurelio, Benayoun, Lucas, Ngog, El Zhar.

I would go for this team:

------------------------Reina----------------------
Arbeloa-----Carragher----------Skrtel------Dossena
Kuyt-------Mascherano--------Alonso--------Babel
---------------Torres-----------Keane------------

I would put on Ngog, Benayoun and Lucas however, to get a feel of things..

[Gazmo1]

Match Thread, 8 hours before kick off, interesting!

3 points please.

[Vermilion]

Match Thread, 8 hours before kick off, interesting!

3 points please.

Aye....he's very keen isn't he...

Lets hope our players are as eager today...a win is the most important thing, but a good performance wouldn't go amiss either. Heres hoping.

[bobbyfallon]

not feeling as confident as normal for this one. heres hoping we play **** football sneak a winner 1-0 torres

[slimbimjim]

I'm looking at a competitive match but we will win!

See you on the other side

I reckon we'll be top of the league in 6 hours.

[JohnDoe]

Have a feeling we'll get slaughtered.

[red g]

our season starts now. Alonso will be man of match

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Other than us winning all i want is us to revert back to our 4-2-3-1.

[Gazmo1]

The way I'm looking at it is we have been playing some ****e football and we are due to give somebody a royal going over. With no Stevie G the team will be looking for the result and we want to show Barry what he is missing out on.

Blind faith or good thoughts? I just don't want to be grumpy for the rest of day!

[Shaggy]

Javier Mascherano makes his first start of the season as Liverpool look to maintain their perfect start in the Barclays Premier League at Villa this afternoon.

The Argentina international comes into the line-up in place of the injured Steven Gerrard as Rafael Benitez makes three change from the side that needed extra-time to see off Standard Liege.

Brazilian Lucas Leiva also features in place of Yossi Benayoun while Andrea Dossena is preferred to Fabio Aurelio at left-back.

The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Dossena, Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs: Cavalieri, Aurelio, Agger, Benayoun, Babel, Ngog, El Zhar.

[Shaggy]

wibble

[Shaggy]

wibble

[bobbyfallon]

just seen that - so dossana is starting??

[Exiled_red]

Javier Mascherano makes his first start of the season as Liverpool look to maintain their perfect start in the Barclays Premier League at Villa this afternoon.

The Argentina international comes into the line-up in place of the injured Steven Gerrard as Rafael Benitez makes three change from the side that needed extra-time to see off Standard Liege.

Brazilian Lucas Leiva also features in place of Yossi Benayoun while Andrea Dossena is preferred to Fabio Aurelio at left-back.

The Liverpool team in full: Reina, Arbeloa, Aurelio, Carragher, Skrtel, Mascherano, Alonso, Benayoun, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs: Cavalieri, Dossena, Agger, Lucas, Babel.

eh?? I'm confused!!

[bobbyfallon]

and benny not playing what to **** is happening there