Match Preview: Liverpool v Aston Villa

by Dek Hogan

Who are we playing?
Liverpool on Saturday 26th September at 3pm

Where are we playing?
Liverpool Football Club,
Anfield Road
Liverpool
L4 0TH.

Can I go?
Not unless you've already got your sticky paws on a ticket. Sold Out.

Easy to get to?

Trains to Liverpool can be particularly annoying at weekends, but if they are running properly (big if) it's a doddle. Mind you don't get lost at the new New Street station though...

#avfc fans travelling 2 Liverpool via train b aware trains to & from fixture will b dry trains, with NO alcohol allowed. BTP will b checking

— Aston Villa WMPolice (@WMPVillaFC) September 25, 2015

Can I watch it on telly
Saturday 3 o'clocker so you'll need a pub with a dodgy dish or a decent internet feed.

Big game?
Huge.

In comparable games we are already SEVEN points short of last season and right in the shite. Lose this one and we'll be TEN points behind last year's pathetic haul.

The football may be far superior to the twaddle served up under Lambo, but Timbo has to find a winning blend soon or we'll be too deep in the mire to crawl out.

Liverpool don't like playing us at Anfield though and their form so far this season has disappointed their miserable following. Keep them out long enough and their support will get tetchy, which can only help our cause.

Jordan Ayew managed to win a few hearts and minds in the Birmingham City game but we wouldn't even hazard a guess at Tim's team selection, given some of the frankly bizarre decisions he's been making lately.

Caroline Wozniacki

The frustrating thing is that we have gifted points to the opposition this season in games we could and should have won. Hopefully competition for places will lead to a wee bit more concentration from our boys.

This game could have been all about Benteke, but he's injured so we'll have to hope that the returning Sturridge hasn't hit form as yet.

Certainly, Liverpool being dragged through extra time and penalties by our old ally Keith Curle (ask yer dad kids) has done us a favour.

Does Liverpool boast any famous fans?
Well there's Caroline Wozniacki off of the tennis and Daniel Craig out of that long running spy thingy

We've got David Bradley off of films and the telly.

So we win.

Who's playing for us?

Tricky one this but both Jack and Mister Ayew have surely done enough to merit a start. Would you pick Lescott at the moment? Not sure I would.

Who's playing for them
No Big Chris but Danny Ings has remembered where the goal is. Biggest threat is likely to come from Coutinho whho has looked impressive despite his team not firing on all cylinders.


Any useless stats?
Of course, here you go:

Evil Gerrard

• Liverpool have beaten us on 92 occasions while we have 57 wins.  There have been 40 draws.

• We nabbed all three points in this fixture last season, Gabby getting the solitary goal in one of his best games in a Villa shirt.

• In 1894 we won our first ever encounter with Liverpool at Anfield, Stephen Smith and Bob Chatt the scorers as we took it 2-1.

• Our last defeat at Anfield was way back in 2010. David N'Gog was amongst the scorers as we fell by 3-0.

Prediction
2-1 to us