Aston Villa v Liverpool (FAC3) Friday 8th January 7:45pm KO - Pre Match Thread

[fbriai]

We have not isolated the entire first team squad have we?

I think so, CL, including the coaches and medical staff. Bodymore is closed as well.

From what I've read, the U23s were tested yesterday and we are awaiting the results of those tests to see whether we have enough players to take the field. Mark Delaney is due to be in the dugout if we do.

More info here: Aston Villa set to field youth players in Liverpool FA Cup tie due to Covid cases

[rob_bridge]

I’m sure Liverpool fans are looking at this as justice for when they had to play kids against us last time. This isn’t any longer a contest if they play any first teamers but they may not now.

I’ve seen this a lot on Twitter. You’ve got to be some kind of amoeba to think there’s any similarity between the two situations.

I’ll assume if they score tonight that they won’t celebrate the goals as they berated us for doing?

I would love it if we beat them, love it.

Exactly - they could have readily split their squad and still won that Bestest Dubai World Cup and give Villa a proper match.

[Nev]

If it goes ahead I think Bingo will go with a young team with a few first teamers thrown in as insurance against defeat. He's been blarting all season about injuries and how he cares first and foremost about the players so if he put out a full first team he'll look a right dick.

We're on a hiding to nothing really.

[algy]

Well, I had thought this'd be the start of an incredible cup run, but can't see that happening now barring a miracle.  Looking for positives, though, it might well work in our favour to go out (basically) without having played a game.

Assuming we go out, we've got 23 games left this season regardless of results.  You can imagine a significant number of games will end up getting postponed over the next few months, which'll cause some major fixture congestion as we go in to summer.  I can see a point where some teams will regularly be playing a game every 2 or 3 days for weeks on end ... it might not be a bad thing to be out of the cups, as long as we can take advantage of that.

[Gareth]

I’m sure Klopp was already planning to rest most of his key players from the starting line up but have 4/5 of them on the bench when thinking we would play our first team - now we are going with youth you’d expect he will take the opportunity to leave a few more in Liverpool for a rest and go youth with likes of Origi, Minamino & Shaquiri sprinkled in.

Hope if it does go ahead that none of the u23’s we want to see have been training with first team this week as it would gutting for them to miss out.

[TaxDodger]

Let's just sack this off. When we win it next year we can claim to be undefeated in the FA Cup for two years.

[Legion]

A few of the U23s train with the first team.

[DrGonzo]

It's a friday night match.  I don't like friday night matches, give me a sunday evening every time.  I don't think we'll learn a lot if the kids play but it would be a good experience for them.  Good luck lads

[Gareth]

A few of the U23s train with the first team.

That’ll be a real shame for any that miss out

[TelfordVilla]

I doubt the 8-1 loss at sunderland in the EFL cup was a 'good experience' for them. This could be a whole lot worse.

[john e]

you have to think it could affect  their confidence and do them no good at all

What happens if they get absolutely battered and say Liverpool put 7 goals past them
totally embarrassing that would be

[TonyD]

I suspect it will be postponed. 

[ChicagoLion]

We have not isolated the entire first team squad have we?

I think so, CL, including the coaches and medical staff. Bodymore is closed as well.

From what I've read, the U23s were tested yesterday and we are awaiting the results of those tests to see whether we have enough players to take the field. Mark Delaney is due to be in the dugout if we do.

More info here: Aston Villa set to field youth players in Liverpool FA Cup tie due to Covid cases

cheers mate.
The game is now meaningless.
How soon will the first team be available to play?

[dave shelley]

Any hope of blizzards and six-foot snowdrifts over there today?

[Dave]

I suspect it will be postponed.

To be played when?