Ahead of the Game: Aston Villa

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

Premier League

Villa Park

24/08/2013

17:30

Liverpool travel to Aston Villa in this weekend’s Saturday evening Premier League game, as the reds go in search of their first set of back-to-back wins at the start of a league campaign since 2008. The two sides shared six points last season, with The Claret-and-Blues recording a three-one victory at Anfield and Liverpool taking a win home from Villa Park in the reverse fixture.

Brendan Rodgers will be hoping for a repeat of his team’s two-one win over Aston Villa in March, when Jordan Henderson topped off an impressive performance by netting a goal. The combative, English midfielder beat off competition from Joe Allen to start the reds’ opening Premier League fixture against Stoke last Saturday and was influential in the home side’s win, coming close to scoring on a number of occasions. But despite his positive performance, don’t be surprised to see Henderson replaced by Welshman Allen for the visit to The Midlands, with more emphasis on ball retention against a dangerous Villa team. And it's clear Henderson understands the need for competition for places at the club; "It is always nice to play, I am sure that is the same for everyone," said the 23-year-old. "But we are a squad and there will be times when other people come in and I have to keep fighting for my place and hopefully stay in the team."

Henderson equalising for Liverpool at Villa Park last season.

Liverpool’s defence will undoubtedly be opposed to more of a challenge against Aston Villa, than they were last weekend. As I touched on in my short piece after the reds’ opening game, Stoke’s lack of pace and explosiveness upfront meant Liverpool were able to play an extremely high defensive line with ease, and subsequently force The Potters back and control the game. Against the strong, fluid and unpredictable forward trio (Weimann, Benteke and Agbonlahor) of Villa though, reds manager Brendan Rodgers will be more wary and should instruct his defence to sit slightly deeper.

There is also an opportunity for the Liverpool boss to opt for a personnel change in defence, with the arrival on Tuesday of French left-back Aly Cissokho. The 25-year-old is a quick player and will offer the reds some vital left-sided attacking width in the final third. However, due to his lack of Premier League experience, I would expect Brendan Rodgers to ease him into a red shirt, and select the more familiar Jose Enrique to start this fixture.

After an encouraging finish to last season, Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert will have been hoping for a kindly generated fixture list at the beginning of 2013/14, giving his team a good opportunity to continue their momentum and get off to a flying start. He didn't get it; Villa travelled to Arsenal and Chelsea for their opening two games of the season, and now host Liverpool, in their third match in seven days. Lambert will have taken confidence from his team’s performances in London though; they produced a brilliant counter-attacking display to win three-one at The Emirates Stadium and on Wednesday narrowly lost to a strong Chelsea side, with Christian Benteke getting on the scoresheet in both games.

My Line-up

A tired cliche which I'm often reluctant to use was at the forefront of my mind when selecting this team: why change a winning side?

Normally if that question was posed to me I'd argue that it's important to be pro-active in picking the most suitably equipped eleven players to beat whoever your opposition may be, rather than basing your selection on form alone. So here I have chosen the team I think has the best chance of beating Aston Villa, and coincidentally it is the same eleven players which started our last game against Stoke.

I'm sure some fans will be keen to see Aly Cissokho replace Jose Enrique at left-back, but this is not the game to be starting your first Premier League game. Enrique's strength could also come in handy against a powerful Villa side.

Further forward, I'd like to see Jordan Henderson retain his place in a central attacking midfield role, while an interchanging front three of Coutinho, Sturridge and Aspas should cause a laboured Aston Villa defence problems.


View From the Other Side

Aston Villa fan @Twiterman - "Sturridge. Our centre backs aren't the most nimble beasts to say the least. maybe a 1-1 or 1-0 LFC. We'll be knackered after Weds and haven't kept a clean sheet since (approx) 1986."

Aston Villa fan @pierrson - "how about simon mignolet's last visit to villa park ;) he conceded 6 goals including a benteke hat trick."

Aston Villa fan @LiamAvfcReeves - "we don't fear no Liverpool players."

Aston Villa fan @Unofficial_Phil - "Villa will make the LFC fans weep like last year. 2-0 to us. Scared of Coutinho. He seems to be the only oe with that little bit more class."

Aston Villa fan @Gazvilla - "It'll be a tight game both teams scoring but our front 3 will make the difference 2-1 to Villa Benteke & Weimann."

Aston Villa fan @Ciano_11 - "2-2 draw. Similar to last season's game. Both capable of scoring, both capable of conceding. In a word, Coutinho.


One to Watch

Christian Benteke - A unanimous choice I'm sure. Benteke gave Liverpool's defence the run around last season at Anfield, and also scored in the return fixture at Villa Park. The reds notoriously have problems with defending against physically imposing forwards, but Kolo Toure's presence could help.

Aston Villa's Last Six

LWWWWW


Liverpool's Last Six

WWLWWW


Odds

Aston Villa - 16/5
Draw - 11/4
Liverpool - 18/19


My Prediction

Aston Villa 2-2 Liverpool


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