Liverpool – Villa; Let the real games commence.

So, a recap.
We’ve done very nicely, ta, over our first few games, with a loss at Newcastle, which is no disgrace to say the least and a couple of wins against Everton and Burnley.

So basically, about where we ought to be if we’re being honest.

Now the real tests begin and we face a team, that while currently in decline to my mind, is still a formidable opponent. Well, it’s just Pool away, isn’t it?
They’re never an easy game.

The thing is though, they are weakened when compared to the last decade or even more.
They have a Saudi club wanting to buy Mo Salad, who has basically announced by his silence that he wants to leave for their $2million a week and £150 million offer, which the club have knocked back. Expect them to come back with a £200 million offer and it just confirms that the game is just stupid.
He’s 31, ffs!

Whatever, I don’t see how Pool can account for this and I’ve heard of no replacement in place.
In fact, I personally think Pool are somewhat shellshocked.
I like Klopp, but see his days numbered at Liverpool.

Not that this affects our game tomorrow.
Except it does. This sort of event can totally unsettle everything and I’m hoping that’s happened here.

Squad news and nothing has changed for us, except Martinez will probably be straight back in after his calf twinge.

As for Liverpool, Van Diyk is suspended after his sending off last week and hopefully the inquiry into his abusing the ref will see another couple of games out too.
Curtis Jones is back is training, but Ibrahima Konate and Thiago Alcantara aren’t ready.

Useless fact;

Villa are winless in their last five league visits to Anfield (D1, L4), although only Manchester United and Chelsea have won more Premier League away games against Liverpool than Villa have.

I’m expecting a really good, all out, tactical game here.
Both teams can play at pace, while both defences, if I’m keeping my neutral head on, are prone to errors.

We are going to go for this, because Emery doesn’t do “taking a point”, which is yet another reason why I like him so much.

Let’s not forget;
“The aim of the game is to score more goals than the opponent”

I’m going for a 2-1 result.
The trouble is, I honestly don’t know who’s going to get it and can’t call it.

UTV, while hoping it’s us!

217 Comments

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  1. Sidforever
    Sidforever September 16, 2023 at 5:01 pm . Reply

    Oh yes

  2. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum September 16, 2023 at 5:02 pm . Reply

    Wow!!!!! 3.

  3. little 8
    little 8 September 16, 2023 at 5:10 pm . Reply

    Yeesssss great comeback wooo hooo
    Hope that has made you feel a little better badger

  4. 1874 was a good year
    1874 was a good year September 16, 2023 at 5:15 pm . Reply

    We used to be known as the team that crumbled and gave goals away in the last fifteen. Glad that it was the other way around today. Has Emery finally got some resilience into the team?
    Anyway, happy that I can watch MOTD tonight!
    COYL

  5. korean villa
    korean villa September 16, 2023 at 5:16 pm . Reply

    oooooh baby the villa lions is roaring woooooooooooo!!!!

  6. Roy Bracy
    Roy Bracy September 16, 2023 at 5:24 pm . Reply

    Bill I suggest you stay in toilet for every game in future 😂
    What a finish by Duran that’s goal of the month for September
    When ball hit goalkeeper on back of head and stayed out I thought our luck was out and no way we’d score.
    Well done lads utv

    1. Bill Pearson
      Bill Pearson September 17, 2023 at 10:35 am . Reply

      Noted Roy, in future I’ll get a tv put in and watch the games in the toilet. Also I’ll keep my opinions too myself as I’m proven wrong again. Or Roy call it a senior moment 😇

  7. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum September 16, 2023 at 5:27 pm . Reply

    That is one incredible last 15 minutes. Stunning stuff!!!

  8. Holte
    Holte September 16, 2023 at 5:38 pm . Reply

    Another home win! It was never in doubt! Commentary said Palace will feel hard done by. I think the statistics show that we were unlucky not to have won by a bigger margin. Eze for them is a class act though and credit to the referee for standing by his decision on the penalty and not letting the VAR idiots change his mind.

  9. Bum Bum
    Bum Bum September 16, 2023 at 10:23 pm . Reply

    MOTD. Will have to look away when Lineker is on the screen. A nauseating narcissist.

    1. RSS
      RSS September 17, 2023 at 12:18 am . Reply

      How can someone who’s perfect be narcissistic?
      😂

      1. Bum Bum
        Bum Bum September 17, 2023 at 8:05 am . Reply

        In his dreams, Ron!!! It’s weird how there’s hardly any pundits worth listening to or watching nowadays.
        An anomaly against Newcastle. Two good wins. Dodgy decisions at Anfield even though Liverpool were clinical. Great European wins. A cracking comeback yesterday. 7th place above Newcastle, ManU and Chelsea. And all this losing half our first team to injuries. A Palace fan writing on the BBC yesterday said the Villa fans were so loud and passionate, they almost single-handedly roared the ball into the net. I think the players showed Emery real heart yesterday. Great things are happening at VP.
        Roll on the Polish trip and Chelski!!! UTV!!!!

        1. RSS
          RSS September 17, 2023 at 12:07 pm . Reply

          Remember being down VP about 10 years against Man U we went 2-0 up with 12 minutes to go, I thought ” this is gonna be a long 12 minutes.”
          It was, we lost 2-3.
          Man U went through the gears like a well tuned Ferrari and simply blew us away.
          My point is that was us yesterday, we had that other another gear.
          Ain’t life grand 😁

    2. BFR
      BFR September 17, 2023 at 10:40 am . Reply

      That’s what more cash than one man can use does to you, Bum Bum.

  10. Holte
    Holte September 17, 2023 at 8:09 am . Reply

    Based on current form, is Duran looking a better pick than Watkins to start the next game?

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum September 17, 2023 at 3:20 pm . Reply

      I’d go for it or can we accommodate 2 strikers in our set up?

  11. BFR
    BFR September 17, 2023 at 10:36 am . Reply

    Quick summary: if Diaby is offside, I’m a monkey’s uncle. And to the arseholes at Stockley Park who tried to convince the ref not to give the pen, up yours.
    UTV

    1. BFR
      BFR September 17, 2023 at 4:19 pm . Reply

      …oh and huge congratulations to Darren England for having the cohones to ignore the bent twats at Stockley Park. Respect the rare integrity. Give the man a promotion.

      1. BFR
        BFR September 17, 2023 at 4:25 pm . Reply

        I feel a VAR rant coming on…no, no, I’ll leave it…

  12. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson September 17, 2023 at 10:42 am . Reply

    Good question Holte, I’ve had my doubts for awhile and he doesn’t let me down lately. How he misses some chances god only knows. Still a win is a win and it should cheer Badger up no end. Get better Badger and change the job you’ve got it’s working all hours is no good to anyone.

    1. OLL
      OLL September 18, 2023 at 10:00 am . Reply

      Watkins does not – and cannot – strike a hard shot. So when he is trying to beat the keeper he must go for placement, just inside either post. Doing that means missing the goal frequently. For the more perceptive goalkeeper the body shape Watkins must adopt will be different for a shot inside the left post or right post, so the keeper gets a clue and is more likely to make the save.

      1. Ardent Villain
        Ardent Villain September 18, 2023 at 11:22 am . Reply

        OLL – interesting observation (as always) – certainly I’d come to a similar conclusion about the ‘power’ of Ollie’s shots compared to what we’re seeing from Dhuran and Diaby (for example); they not only seem to place their shots more accurately, but with an awful lot more force than he manages.

  13. Adam
    Adam September 17, 2023 at 11:55 am . Reply

    Duran really has impressed me this season. I remember last season against City he came on and volleyed one off the bar from 25 yards and I thought there’s something there with this kid. Well you can clearly see this season he’s improved and if he keeps improving at this rate then the sky is the limit. I was impressed with the finish against Everton having lots of time and keeper running out is not easy and yesterdays finish was a whole different kettle of fish. The control, the power, clean strike, technique, wow. Great morale boosting win yesterday.

  14. 1874 was a good year
    1874 was a good year September 17, 2023 at 3:07 pm . Reply

    From the BBC ‘Only Ollie Watkins (14) has had more attempts on goal this season without scoring a Premier League goal than Enzo Fernandez (12).’ Reading that I’d say give Duran a chance by all means.

    BTW fancy our chances against Chelsea next week. Really poor performance by them in the first half against Bournemouth.

    1. RSS
      RSS September 17, 2023 at 3:44 pm . Reply

      Never count your chickens but they don’t look to clever 🤞

      1. 1874 was a good year
        1874 was a good year September 17, 2023 at 3:59 pm . Reply

        You’re probably right RSS but today Chelsea were eleven strangers on the field plus six subs that had never played in the PL. I have high hopes of something next week.

  15. RSS
    RSS September 18, 2023 at 9:07 pm . Reply

    Aston Villa will face Legia Warsaw at the Legia Warsaw Municipal Stadium on Thursday, September 21.
    Kick-off is at 17:45 UK time, with live coverage on TNT Sports 2 commencing at 17:00.

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum September 19, 2023 at 7:28 am . Reply

      Cool! Thanks.

  16. OLL again
    OLL again September 19, 2023 at 10:36 am . Reply

    The Holy Trinity Show (YouTube) is an epic this week.
    It is difficult to believe this is an amateur broadcast – it looks and sounds like a professional actor working with a professional producer. If you have never watched Pete’s post match analysis please start with this one. Superb.

    1. Bum Bum
      Bum Bum September 19, 2023 at 7:11 pm . Reply

      He’s also very honest, analytical and pragmatic too. I like that. It’s so easy for us all to blow off after a below par game by someone.

  17. Sidforever
    Sidforever September 20, 2023 at 7:00 am . Reply

    Hi Badger
    I hope you are recovering well from Covid.

  18. Bill Pearson
    Bill Pearson September 20, 2023 at 1:08 pm . Reply

    Badger, you made me go and get my covid jab, As Sid saying hope all’s well with you and cheer us up with Villa Posting it’s a special week Thursday and Saturday .

  19. Hitchens60
    Hitchens60 September 20, 2023 at 6:29 pm . Reply

    Get well soon Badger – been away cruising without WiFi for last seven days!

  20. Sidforever
    Sidforever September 20, 2023 at 7:27 pm . Reply

    Good news bad news

    Great to see Konsa has signed a long term contract. I really rate him and glad to see him being with us for the long haul.

    As I previously posted I don’t see Watkins signing an extension. It’s been on the table since before the end of last season. It would not surprise me if he was sold at the next transfer window to stop him seeing mount the final year of his contract and leave in a free. With Duran making progress and recent press reporting that Villa are looking at a big striker signing in the winter, one can only speculate.

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