Aston Villa v Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[Richard E]

You'll NEVER guess what result Lawro has gone for!

[VillaAlways]

You'll NEVER guess what result Lawro has gone for!

We could be unbeaten all season with Liverpool languishing in the bottom half of the table and he'd still have them to win 2-1 I've never seen him predict a loss for them ever

[Dr Butler]

Lawrenson the fool predicts 2-1 to ??

go on have a guess ?

UTV

Bell End - Lawro that is,not you.

Cheers Rob ! 

[Monty]

Lawro's justifications for the Liverpool win aren't the reasonings of an independent adjudicator but the hopes of a fan. There's a surprise.

[eamonn]

He can't win though. Predict a Villa win and its' "he's put the kibosh on that now". Draw and he's sitting on the fence.

[silhillvilla]

Draw I reckon.

[Mazrim]

He can't win because he's an odeous, camp, one eyed gobshite. The universe won't allow it.

[Meanwood Villa]

My Lpool supporting mate has put a fiver on them to win 4-1, Henderson to score first. Of course it's laughable but the arrogance of it has wound me up in truth so really hoping we stick it to them now.

[Richard E]

Even if Liverpool had gone out of business and this was going to be a walkover he would still predict them to beat us.

[rob_bridge]

You'll NEVER guess what result Lawro has gone for!

We could be unbeaten all season with Liverpool languishing in the bottom half of the table and he'd still have them to win 2-1 I've never seen him predict a loss for them ever

Last season he referenced several times (even months later) how Villa had a good 3-1 v Liverpool though Liverpool had dominated the game for the first 20 minutes and should have been several goals to the good.

Me and my work colleague predicted Lawro's predictions with uncanny accuracy this morning. We agreed on every single result and got the score right on most of them. Sooooooooo predictable. He is, and bearing in the mind the competition, the laziest of all football pundits. Not the stupidest nor the most offensive, just plain boring lazy.

[Small Rodent]

I am interested to see if we approach this game at home, as we have done the two previous away games.

Let the other team score first?

[cheltenhamlion]

Presumably Gerrard will be refereeing this as normal. That said, he is still likely to give a more impartial performance than Kevin Friend in the week.

I don't think we will lose. Either a draw or, if we score early, a home win.

[PeterWithesShin]

Paul Lambert says he's thrilled with the pace and grace of his team - and hopes the fans will be too this season.

Lambert has always aimed to nurture a side that can wow supporters who pay good money to see their heroes.

While he insists he's still "years away" from turning them into the finished article, the boss believes the progress is there for all to see.

Pundits were predicting zero points from the opening three fixtures.

But having turned over Arsenal, they were close to an upset at Chelsea.

Importantly, in both fixtures they played the kind of football that gets you out of your seat.

You know. The sort where, if they're behind they're not out of the game and if they're in front, they'll attack and attack in search of another goal.

In short, engaging, entertaining and exciting.

The away fans have certainly not been short-changed and now it's back to the home comforts of B6 and a clash with Liverpool.

Lambert may tweak the line-up to cater for fatigue - he may not - but he won't be changing anything concerning the approach.

The manager is delighted that his frenetic football philosophies have been absorbed by the players on the training field - and then brought to life in the cut-and-thrust of the Barclays Premier League.

He wants more of the same on Saturday - and he thinks the fans will love it.

He said: "We have come away from two difficult games with our confidence really high.

"We're vibrant - and so we should be because of the way we have played.

"The lads are playing incredibly well at the moment. We have got the bit between the teeth, which is great.

"They have been outstanding in the last couple of games. We went to a team who could win the Barclays Premier League and who will be playing in the Champions League. But we took the game to them and gave them a right fright.

"The way we are playing, there's energy and pace. My own view is we have a really good style of football.

"We play quick, energetic football. Hopefully everyone who comes to watch us enjoys it.

"We play football the way we think is right - high-intensity. We play a quick game. That's the way we train and we play the way we train.

"We have a great football club here with a great fanbase behind us. We have a team that is proud as heck to be here. That's vital.

"We are years away from where we want to get to. But we are getting there certainly.

"We need the crowd with us. I said from day one, this club needs its supporters behind it rather than pulling against it.

"They have never once while I have been here waivered from it all. Even in pure adversity they stuck with it.

"The noise levels over the last two games have been brilliant. I am sure Villa Park will be rocking this weekend too.The crowd are there with us.

"We go into the Liverpool game with a lot of confidence.

"All you can ask is going into a game with a positive mindset that we can win.

"Brendan Rogers has a really good Liverpool side. We had two good games with them last season. I'm sure this will be no different.

"The two teams play football. We will see what happens. It will be a great occasion.

"We are playing with a lot of confidence. We will play to win."

Lambert knows the encounter with the Reds - which pits him against good friend Rodgers - will be immensely tough.

But he thinks the pride garnered from the performance at Stamford Bridge will carry the team on to this latest challenge.

He added: "After the Chelsea game, you could hear a pin drop at times in the dressing room.

"I said 'you've got everything to be proud of - you know you've given it a go.'

"I was proud as anything. To go there and play the way they did. We gave them a fright and I think they knew it.

"You just sense now that they want to go again because of how they are playing. They have that feeling of 'I want to go again.'"

MATCH INFO

Villa v Liverpool
Barclays Premier League
Saturday August 23 - KO 5.30pm
Referee: Mark Clattenberg

TICKETS

Tickets are still available.

Contact 0800 612 0970, pop into Villa Village or New Street or buy online.

[Ads]

I am interested to see if we approach this game at home, as we have done the two previous away games.

Let the other team score first?

People keep saying we're a counter attacking team (often used as a pejorative strangely enough) and I just wonder if it will be horses for courses with our tactics.

[bobdylan]

It's odd how it says tickets still available yet on the find a seat thingy there has been none available since early yesterday.