Villa vs Liverpool post match thread

[Lecter]

I dont think our midfield is great frankly

Its just that its far worse without Henderson

[Vermilion]

Didn't realise this win made us the first club in English football history to record 1800 Top Flight victories.

[BigChief]

Henderson needs to play every game from now 'til the end of the season. Which begs the question where does Sturridge play?

Can't come in for Downing as he's too valuable down that wing with Johnson. Plus it renders Sturridge effectively as a right mid which is pointless for us/him. The only player I can see being dropped would be Lucas. Henderson dropping into this role next to Gerrard and Suarez dropping back behind Sturridge.

[spider-neil]

Any combination of 2 in central midfield is asking for trouble and will almost certainly see us over run in midfield.

[Mattshark]

Any combination of 2 in central midfield is asking for trouble and will almost certainly see us over run in midfield.

There are plenty of games where that didn't happen (city away, arsenal away, Swansea home)

[Mattshark]

Henderson needs to play every game from now 'til the end of the season. Which begs the question where does Sturridge play?

Can't come in for Downing as he's too valuable down that wing with Johnson. Plus it renders Sturridge effectively as a right mid which is pointless for us/him. The only player I can see being dropped would be Lucas. Henderson dropping into this role next to Gerrard and Suarez dropping back behind Sturridge.

Why would you drop Lucas? Henderson is not going to do the holding role. Lucas was, while his tackling was erratic and over aggressive in the first half, the only midfielder we had closing down and challenging in the first half.

Without Lucas our midfield would not be making any challenges at all.

[~LFCHistory~]

Why would you drop Lucas? Henderson is not going to do the holding role. Lucas was, while his tackling was erratic and over aggressive in the first half, the only midfielder we had closing down and challenging in the first half.

Without Lucas our midfield would not be making any challenges at all.

Lucas isn't perfect but he's our only genuine DM at the moment, need to sign another in the summer for sure.

[Exiled_red]

Lucas isn't perfect but he's our only genuine DM at the moment, need to sign another in the summer for sure.

I think we need to get someone in who can play a solid defensive midfield role, who likes to get stuck in and win the ball back, someone like Mascherano. We might not need them in every game but I think we would need them as a squad option. Lucas is an intercepting defensive midfielder whereas Mascherano was a tackling defensive midfielder.

[Mattshark]

I think we need to get someone in who can play a solid defensive midfield role, who likes to get stuck in and win the ball back, someone like Mascherano. We might not need them in every game but I think we would need them as a squad option. Lucas is an intercepting defensive midfielder whereas Mascherano was a tackling defensive midfielder.

Well, before he was injured, Lucas made more tackles that anyone in the league, by some distance.

[Neil Young]

...Lucas is an intercepting defensive midfielder...

I'd say he's more of a withdrawn forward-lying defensive harasser.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

I'd say he's more of a withdrawn forward-lying defensive harasser.

[SERVO2]

The mascot "battling Joshua" started chemo again today - doesn't sound like its give too well, he's in intensive care with a chest infection - fingers crossed its as a precaution.

YNWA - not really into twitter but for his age & illness his timeline gives alot of perspective.

Cheers

Rach

[Liverpel]

I suppose he'd want credit for that too, at the reception.

[RedReet]

Henderson needs to play every game from now 'til the end of the season. Which begs the question where does Sturridge play?

Can't come in for Downing as he's too valuable down that wing with Johnson. Plus it renders Sturridge effectively as a right mid which is pointless for us/him. The only player I can see being dropped would be Lucas. Henderson dropping into this role next to Gerrard and Suarez dropping back behind Sturridge.

Was it you that suggested that Johnson's defending has improved with Downing ahead of him, whereas most others think his form has dropped recently?

Not having a go, just remember reading it and assuming it was you made the point. Do you still think that's the case? Personally I tend to agree that Johnson has struggled a bit recently while Downing has played better and while I don't think their respective form is linked, I think Johnson has had many more better games defensively without Downing ahead of him than with.

Also can’t fathom the idea of dropping Lucas. If fit, Lucas should play every game.

[MrMichael]

The mascot "battling Joshua" started chemo again today - doesn't sound like its give too well, he's in intensive care with a chest infection - fingers crossed its as a precaution.

YNWA - not really into twitter but for his age & illness his timeline gives alot of perspective.

Cheers

Rach

Well said