Aston Villa at home Saturday 1st Nov 8pm

[labourRed]

He's the best athlete we've had in years and if he matched that in quality he'd be a worldie, but unfortunately he's not that good with the ball. He should have put us ahead 20 mins ago when clean through, but you can't rely on him to do it.

It's easy from an armchair but if he strikes it to the right, Salah slots it in.

I like him. But he could be so, so much better.

[BootRoom]

Salah has been brilliant this half.

He's slipped his man a couple of times, but "brilliant" is way over the top.

[Kenneth]

Is it Bradley and salah that are stepping on each others toes on the right side

[kingfunk]

He's slipped his man a couple of times, but "brilliant" is way over the top.

I disagree. Work rate has been great, great positioning, great passing, he’s stretching their defence and he scored. What else would you like him to do?

[Tatterdemalion]

I disagree. Work rate has been great, great positioning, great passing, he’s stretching their defence and he scored. What else would you like him to do?

Score 2?

[peterbread]

Some good things out there. Someone said it earlier the press is good but maybe one too many so when they get through there is no one in midfield but it’s working better today. But the balance is off and it’s not clicking completely.

Some positive signs but still some of the same issue when they go long with no one to win the second balls after one of our defenders wins it. But Villa seem to prefer to try and play out which works better for us.

On a side note why are refs so weak and let players get away with everything. A player off the pitch and it wasn’t til VVD sprinted down that end to yell at the ref did he do anything.

[Kenneth]

That dive to try and win a pen should have been a yellow.

It seems like every team dives now.

He's slipped his man a couple of times, but "brilliant" is way over the top.

[Buzzo]

Our energy looked good that half. Press was more connected. Green shoots.

[peterbread]

The balance in attack looks better as well. It’s going down both sides and Salah is in the game more. Not at his best yet but much better. The balance of the team in general looks way better. They are on the right track so far. Build on that first half and go finish them off.

[Tatterdemalion]

Some good things out there. Someone said it earlier the press is good but maybe one too many so when they get through there is no one in midfield but it’s working better today. But the balance is off and it’s not clicking completely.

Some positive signs but still some of the same issue when they go long with no one to win the second balls after one of our defenders wins it. But Villa seem to prefer to try and play out which works better for us.

On a side note why are refs so weak and let players get away with everything. A player off the pitch and it wasn’t til VVD sprinted down that end to yell at the ref did he do anything.

Fair, but I think the better press is why we are having a better game; the fact Villa are not playing long as well, as you say. Hopefully more the former - we've been seriously remiss with our press and intensity lately.

[BootRoom]

I disagree. Work rate has been great, great positioning, great passing, he’s stretching their defence and he scored. What else would you like him to do?

It's an improved showing, but apart from a good cross to Gakpo who got a header across the the goal, where is all this "great passing"? Work rate, positioning, good passing - it's the minimum expectation from any player, and most fall into the category of having a decent game.

[BigChief]

Salah been player of the half so far, just ahead of Szob. It helps we don't have Wirtz, Kerkez and Isak on. Macca has been slightly better as well.

[peterbread]

Fair, but I think the better press is why we are having a better game; the fact Villa are not playing long as well, as you say. Hopefully more the former - we've been seriously remiss with our press and intensity lately.

Yeah I agree the press is a lot better and having Dom lead it is helping. They’re up and at it tonight which is great. Maybe earlier on they got through a couple times a bit easily but it’s got better as the game has gone on. Maybe a few signs that Mac Allister is starting to get some form which is helping.

[Tatterdemalion]

Salah been player of the half so far, just ahead of Szob. It helps we don't have Wirtz, Kerkez and Isak on. Macca has been slightly better as well.

Well that's £250m of problematic.

[Rich]

Effort is there. Some of our passing is too safe and clearly we have confidence issues across the team but we are winning!

I’d be very tempted to swap Gakpo for Wirtz early to give him more minutes with Ekitike.