Aston Villa v Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[Somniloquism]

Just been reading that the decision of the Suarez/Evra/racism inquest is due tomorrow, and if guilty, Suarez faces a lengthy ban.

Let's hope it starts with immediate effect.

Even if found guilty, I expect an appeal. But then as mentioned, I don't think he will be.

Anyway, I hope for a win as I met a nice family on tonights flight back from Belfast who have come over to visit their cousins and take in Sundays match. I expected Irish reds but they are Villa fans. So for this trip I hope they are going to get entertained and go home happy.

[villadom]

Based on our recent performances, I doubt anybody will be entertained

[N'ZMAV]

Not looking forward to this one, actually, I don't look forward to many games these days. Yes, I'm miserable and boring.

[JUAN PABLO]

I dreamt we won 1-0 last night  but Joey Barton was the MOM for us . Very strange

[The Laughing Policeman]

Lawrenson has it down as 1-1. So hard luck to the guys who have predicted this.

[TheSandman]

Can't understand the Downing hate. Surely he saw the writing on the wall. We had just employed McLeish and declared a war on wages.

I think most of it was down to the little weasel c*** saying how he wanted to sign a new contract then five minutes later deciding he wanted to fuck off to Liverpool.

[Legion]

Auntie

TEAM NEWSAston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor serves a one-match ban for accumulating five bookings, so Emile Heskey could start against his former club.

Midfielder Fabian Delph has recovered from the knee injury that caused him to miss last weekend's victory at Bolton.

Liverpool are waiting on the availability of Luis Suarez, who should find out the outcome of his disciplinary hearing today.

Jay Spearing serves the second of a three-match suspension.

MATCH PREVIEWThis fixture was the one where I ended last season; it was a low-key affair and much has changed since. Stewart Downing scored the winner for Villa in what proved to be his last game for the club, Gary McAllister was at the helm in the absence of Gerard Houllier, and Kenny Dalglish was talking afterwards about Liverpool not being in Europe for only the fourth time since 1964.
 
Downing returns to Villa Park for the first time in a Liverpool team strengthened from that day in May and two games from Wembley in the League Cup, while Villa are still searching for consistency, this time under a different manager.

Liverpool's progress is there for all to see - they are seven points better off than at this stage last season before Dalglish returned to the dugout. What's frustrating many at Anfield though is that they could be closer to the leaders. They will be hoping the chances they've created and not converted in games, particularly at home, don't come back to haunt them.

Incredibly, they've hit the woodwork on 15 occasions (I'm reliably informed they would be third if those shots had all gone in!). Nonetheless, to see a team with the likes of Suarez, Carroll, Bellamy, Adam and Kuyt score only 18 goals so far is baffling. They have the best defensive record in the league so they know if the goals start flowing their charge for the top four will gather pace.

Villa's win at Bolton last weekend was much needed, particularly with Sunday's game, Chelsea and Arsenal still to play before the close of the year. With Shay Given and Gabriel Agbonlahor missing they are without key men for this one at both ends of the pitch but still I think Villa fans would like to see a more positive approach at home.

They have a poor record against Liverpool though; in fact the Reds have taken more Premier League points off Villa than any other club and if they can finally discover their scoring touch that could continue on Sunday.

MATCH FACTSHead-to-head

•Villa won at home to Liverpool for the first time in 13 attempts on the final day of last season, when Stewart Downing scored the only goal. Liverpool had won seven and drawn five of their previous 12 league visits to Villa Park.
•However, Kenny Dalglish has yet to win a league match at Villa in charge of Liverpool, drawing all five visits in his first spell and losing 1-0 last season.
Aston Villa

•Villa, who have only averaged a point per game from their last eight matches, next host Arsenal and then visit Stoke and Chelsea before the end of the year.
•Alex McLeish's side have dropped nine points from winning positions - only Blackburn (12) and West Brom (11) have fared worse.
•They have conceded a league-high 32% of goals from corners.
•Darren Bent's five goals this season have all come at Villa Park.
•Stiliyan Petrov has scored three league goals this season - as many as in the previous four seasons combined. His last goal at Villa Park came on the opening day of last season, against West Ham.
•Emile Heskey scored 60 goals in 228 appearances for Liverpool between 2001 and 2004.
•Stephen Ireland awaits his 200th club career appearance.
Liverpool

•Liverpool have only lost one of their last 10 league matches (W5, D4, L1).
•They have the best defensive record in the top flight, conceding only 13 goals and keeping five clean sheets.
•The Reds have hit the woodwork more times than any other team this season (15).
•Summer signing Stewart Downing is expected to make his 300th club career start. He scored nine goals in 63 league appearances for Villa between 2009 and 2011.
•Daniel Agger is poised for his 150th Liverpool appearance, while central defensive partner Martin Skrtel should make his 100th league start for the club.

[supertom]

These thoughts probably confirm my place in hell, but I'll forgive Hutton for being rubbish if he nobbles Downing.

I know what you mean.

I never normally want to see a player get injured, but if Hutton puts Downing somewhere halfway up the lower trinity, I'll be very happy.

Same here. Dunno why, what with it being the festive season and good will and all that but Downing writhing in agony would be a pleasant site. Maybe Stan and Alan could crunch him from two sides.

[Matt Collins]

I don't think Liverpool have conceded more than 1 goal for 10 games, so I imagine we'll get nil or one tomorrow. I'd be surprised if we kept a clean sheet so 1-1 is about as good as I can get my hopes up for.

In fact, I'd probably settle for us looking half decent, passing the ball properly and with ambition and bent looking sharp and scoring, even if we narrowly lose. Which is somewhat depressing!

[TimTheVillain]

I will accept an entertaining game of football.

1-2 Liverpool

The lilly livered weasel being sent to row Z of the Upper Trinity by Hutton would be so great to watch.

[Ads]

I really hope Downing starts, as if he's on the bench, then it's going to make it a lot harder for Hutton to cut the ****** in half.

[TopDeck113]

1-1

[Clampy]

I think it will be a draw but like Man Utd and Swansea, these are beatable at the moment. I'd be a bit more confident if Gabby was playing, but i hope even in his absence McCleish puts out a similar side and formation to last week.

[The Laughing Policeman]

I really hope Downing starts, as if he's on the bench, then it's going to make it a lot harder for Hutton to cut the c*** in half.

If Downing is on the bench Hutton could always go sliding after a ball on the touch line and go crashing into their dugout and take the lot of them out in one fell swoop including Kunt Kenny.

[TimTheVillain]

I really hope Downing starts, as if he's on the bench, then it's going to make it a lot harder for Hutton to cut the c*** in half.

If Downing is on the bench Hutton could always go sliding after a ball on the touch line and go crashing into their dugout and take the lot of them out in one fell swoop including Kunt Kenny.

Ho ho ho

Now THAT would a great Christmas make !