Aston Villa (A) - Match Thread

[Leyton388]

Let Villa go into the game thinking of revenge as it will only mean they wil push up and make mistakes at the back for Torres and keane to exploit.

[JPK]

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.

The offal have cocked this up. They just changed it
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.

[Exiled_red]

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.

That's better

[marcus50bucks]

That's better

No width

[calvoboy]

4-3-3?

Mascher Alonso and Lucas must all be playing central. Keane on one side and Kuyt on the other with Torres leading the line?

Don't think we've played this one before have we?

[marcus50bucks]

John Aldridge has just said he's heard Keane will be playing on the left hand side.

[-V-]

Lucas playing left midfield then i guess

[Exiled_red]

So what formation does everyone think?

Three centre mids (Mascherano, Alonso, Lucas) is interesting but again looks like we'll lack width, do you think we'll play Lucas on left of a 442? or a 433 with Kuyt Torres and Keane as front 3? Or Keane/Lucas wide left in a 4-2-3-1?

[frank the tank]

wonder what way we'll set up...... 442 wth lucas on the left???

i actually think that lucas might play in the gerrard-role of last season just behind torres with keane and kuyt out wide

[marcus50bucks]

Wy the **** is Rafa still insisting on playing Arbeloa?

[JPK]

Keane and Kuyt out wide and Lucas taking up Gerrard's position from last year I would think. Aurelio is a loss at left back for me. Very consistent performer and I would like to see Dossena eased in.

[Exiled_red]

No width

No I meant the team was consistent with the changes it said were made.

[El Jefecito]

John Aldridge has just said he's heard Keane will be playing on the left hand side.

Lucas in the SG role then.

[-V-]

Wy the **** is Rafa still insisting on playing Arbeloa?

Why the **** are you so anti-arbeloa? He's a decent player and he's the best option we have at right-back

[Exiled_red]

Keane and Kuyt out wide and Lucas taking up Gerrard's position from last year I would think. Aurelio is a loss at left back for me. Very consistent performer and I would like to see Dossena eased in.

That's supposed to be Lucas best position (as an attacking mid), so it would be interesting to see him there, I'm don't think Keane can play out wide though.