Aston Villa v Liverpool Match Thread.

[Martyn Smith]

The only thing CP did that I really disliked wax getting in the way of our attack. A referee should have the positional instinct not to do that. Possibly McA should have a yellow by now. Otherwise, fine

[Sexual Ealing]

Superb finish by Watkins.

C'mon, you've got to commit to the bit.

Say it bounced off his shoulder or something.

My comment came with the unwritten caveat, "if you like headers, which I find vulgar".

[Garyth]

This game is a microcosm of our whole season - sometimes we're superb, and sometimes we're, um, really not.

[PaulWinch again]

Our defence are awful. Our attack build up to second goal was fantastic. Many of the Lpool players are utterly dislikeable.

I don’t think the defence has played badly - glaring error aside. It’s errors in midfield that have mostly created problems. Axel has been good as well other than switching off after our first.

[Chip Butty 111]

They are not liking it, Rashford, Rogers, Asensio and Watkins is as good a quartet  they have had to play against lately. We can turn them over here, no question

[Demitri_C]

I need to see that hand ball again. All the scousers are getting their  knickers in a twist

[HolteLower]

OK nice response after the giveaway!

[Smithy]

A good half, felt for Garcia as he'd looked great until his brain fart.  He looked absolutely made up with the equaliser went in.

McGinn having a good game, but gives me kittens every time he tries to turn someone in our final third. Brilliant finish for the second.

Liverpool have looked decent at times and created a couple of decent chances, but we're MORE than holding our own and playing some lovely stuff.

I think all the new guys have looked good (Asensio been a bit quiet, but good when he's had the ball).  Disasi is a LOT better on the ball than I thought. 

The question now is, are we capable of having a very non-Villa second half where we don't gift them easy chances.  They're league leaders for a reason, so they're going to have some pressure in the second half, but hopefully we can stand up against it and would be LOVELY to get a third on the break against them...

[Ger Regan]

Garcia's reaction to the fuck up is encouraging, didn't hide at all. There are more goals in this one

[brontebilly]

McGinn starting to get turned on the ball in midfield has been key I think.

But we really haven't played well at all over the 45

[Rigadon]

Brilliant so far aside from a brain fart from Garcia (who was otherwise great). 

[JUAN PABLO]

with torres and kamara fit

barkley onana konsa bailey cash coming back on bench

malen ramsay and maatsen

blimey Im still hoping for 5th

[VillaTim]

I need to see that hand ball again. All the scousers are getting their  knickers in a twist

Proximity rules out handball

[eamonn]

Wow, what a turnaround. If only it was the third minute of injury time in the second half instead of the first.

Fair play to our lads not giving up but I can't see us being so lucky in the second half.
We've gifted Liverpool so many chances and we'll keep doing that, we just can't defend convincingly as a team.

Also, did Watkins' header actually come off his shoulder? Was sure the ref would rule it out for McGinn's handball, it must have been "too many phases ago" thankfully. Also, not sure if Tielemans meant to hit his shot into the ground.

I'd be amazed if we win this. There's more goals in it but we'll cough-up more so we need to be as ruthless as we were in the first half with the few chances we're likely to get.

[dorsetvillian]

Rogers slightly out of position on the right but still a threat...