Liverpool v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[The Man With A Stick]

Missed the whole game and would have taken a point this afternoon, but by the sound of it it's business as usual at Anfield.  Hope their ferries/flights back to Dublin/Belfast/Oslo all sink/crash.

Would still vote for Suarez as player of the year, I know he's a cheating little peasant shit, but just because of the number of gloryhunting manc bastards it would wind up.

I think this is easily the winner of wind up post of the year.

It's only the 19th of January FFS.  What's so offensive?

[Louzie0]

Missed the whole game and would have taken a point this afternoon, but by the sound of it it's business as usual at Anfield.  Hope their ferries/flights back to Dublin/Belfast/Oslo all sink/crash.

Would still vote for Suarez as player of the year, I know he's a cheating little peasant shit, but just because of the number of gloryhunting manc bastards it would wind up.

I think this is easily the winner of wind up post of the year.

It's only the 19th of January FFS.  What's so offensive?

Well, 1 point instead of 3. The cheating little ps did us out of a win.
And, it wasn't business as usual at Anfield. It was a hell of a lot better.

You could call ignorance offensive, and you have.

I just think you have chosen the wrong match to vote him POTY.

Even if, like me, you know the year is only 20 days old!

[JD]

Watched the game and we played very well. The thing that changed the game was Gabbys injury, otherwise I think we would have won. I was encouraged with the way we played in the last half an hour. I think everyone would have expected Red Scouse to stream roller us after the scored the second, but we stuck in there and battled well.
With Benteke and Weimann looking interested and fit again and Vlaar being fit I think we will be fine.

Also, well done Bertrand. He's hardly played this season but fitted in and had a very solid game.   

[Toronto Villa]

Stan's taking on all comers in this diving debate. Fair play to him for standing his ground against it. It was shit when Young did it for us. It's shit when it's done against us.

[ROBBO]

It puzzles me when posters keep asking why we can't play like that at home when the answer is obvious. Bertrand looked a class act never in trouble against a speedy winger that has big raps on him. Benteke was up for it as well looked as though he is running into form, Kea did well when we were pressing in the first half but to me tired when the pressure came on second half, Weimann kept Gerrard quiet first half and put in for the side  but still think he has too many weaknesses, Vlarr was quality all day. With someone of Bertrands quality in midfield we will improve out of sight.

[Phil from the upper holte]

Happy with the 110% commitment and passion shown we played better than when we won 3-1. With the obvious exception of arsenal away we were the best we've been, Gabby was outstanding as was Vlaar, great debut by Bertrand and even Holt did ok when he came on. Onwards and upwards please Villa and we should keep the diamond just need someone decent at the front. Having Said that Weimann did well we just need a good midfielder. UTV

[Matt Collins]

It will be interesting how lambert sets up against west brom. A similar diamond could theoretically work. But it would be better to have a proper number 10 in the Weimann role, because against a team with plenty of men behind the ball we risk being too narrow and not good enough to move the ball quickly between our midfield players

But I do think some variation on that team - whether a 433, or diamond, or 4231, is our best bet as long as we can keep vlaar fit

Agree clark looks good alongside vlaar

[Deano's Mullet]

Best performance of the season for most of the game. I honestly couldn't believe what I was seeing first half. Commitment, passing, technical skill, a bit of tactical nous. Whether it was a penalty or not - and lets face it that scumbag Freddie Mercury lookalike dived as he did all night - I think the 1st Liverpool goal was the key one. Go in 2-0 up at half time and I think we'd have won, particularly if Gabby had stayed on the pitch. Benteke looks like the beast of last season/first 5 games of this again. Bertrand looked v good, Grant Holt looked good and Bacuna looked world class for the first 80 mins or so. Confidence should hopefully be high now, I just hope the usual home dross doesn't kick in during the next game, particularly as its vs Baggies. We know what they are capable of now, I think we'd all forgotten, now is the time to put it together on a consistent basis, put tonight was the first time in a very long time I've felt pride in the Villa again.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

It puzzles me when posters keep asking why we can't play like that at home when the answer is obvious.

In the first half you'd have thought we were the home team (not Villa at home, obviously). It wasn't sitting back and counter attacking, it was pure domination across the park, ripping Liverpool several new ones. Oh, and we stopped hoofing it. As you say, the answer is most obvious, Robbo.

[Steve R]

We are a much better team when we go out to play football, as opposed to looking to defeat the odds  of 25/30% possession. More likely to get something out of the game and a damn sight better to watch.

We could stand a few upgrades to the squad but I am convinced that most of our problem is in formation and the way we set out to play.

[midnite]

Good overall performance I thought. Played much better and much more consistent across the park.

For the first goal I think villa switched off and wound down for half time. The got a little cocky and got punished. I don't blame Suarez for the dive either. If that was gabby in the situation we'd have been screaming for a penalty and would have been pissed if we didn't get it. Guzan was quick to go down, Suarez was going away from goal, maybe Guzan could have stayed on his feet longer? You expect your striker to go down like that even at minimal contact. I don't agree with it but that's the game.

A point at anfield is nothing to be disappointed about. The way we got that point is. Just a shame when we're 2-0 up we can't hold on to things and shut up shop. But overal a much better and more solid performance for the villa

[MonsXI]

Great performance yesterday obviously annoyed with the pen.

Vlaar's return has made us look a lot more solid at the back and with Benteke looking more and more like the player who terrorised defences in the run in last year.

We do still need a number10 but that would be more for Villa Park to unlock defences because quite frankly on the road I fear no-one!

[silhillvilla]

For me , that's the best performance so far under Lambert. And I say that based on the quality and form of the opposition. As others have said I think if we'd managed to get to HT at 0-2 and Gabby hadn't gone off we would have won but I'm delighted with a point there. Also great that  Benteke is flying again and Weimann amongst the goals.

[Mortimer's Bear]

I hope Lambert has a quiet word with Bacuna and tells him to cut out that nonsense when Sturridge brushed his shoulder, let's leave the cheating to other clubs.

[PaulWinch again]

It's weird losing a two goal lead and feeling pretty elated. The first half in particular was superb and should be the template for how we move forward. We passed, moved and kept possession brilliantly, we pressed them and made them make mistakes it was great. Also second half we showed great resilience not to fold. Well done Villa, best display in a long time.