Aston Villa v Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[TaxDodger]

It's a pity a draw doesn't ensure both teams qualify for CL, then the match would end up being the most boring in the history of the Premier league and we would be nice and fresh for Istanbul.

Whilst it wouldn't secure Champions League for either side, a draw would still be a very positive result for both sides. It would make Liverpool very likely to come 4th and make us very likely to come 5th.

[eamonn]

When was the last time we beat them in front of a crowd at VP? Stewie Downing comes to mind, did he score a winner and they then bought him for silly money?

Yeah, that was a last home game too.  Feel like it didn't have a great deal of meaning but the win moved us up quite a few places to 9th.  If we'd drawn or lost, we'd have been 14th!

2011. Good grief.

We relegated WHam a week or two earlier with a Gabby winner at Upton Park, from memory.

[ADVILLAFAN]

Think Robbie Keane scored for them and we came back to win 2-1.

My only ever trip to the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park).

West Ham were the last team to score over 40 points and be relegated from the Prem.

[Meanwood Villa]

Think Robbie Keane scored for them and we came back to win 2-1.

My only ever trip to the Boleyn Ground (Upton Park).

West Ham were the last team to score over 40 points and be relegated from the Prem.

They were but not that season

[Legion]

A weakened team and a 0-2 loss.

[PeterWithesShin]

2-1

[VancouverLion]

If only Elliot could play RM so we could rest SJM.

2-2

[Richard E]

8-2

[PaulWinch again]

I really hope Unai and the team approach this more like the Forest game than other recent games. Winning this and putting top 5 to bed I think would help with the mentality in the final.

[eamonn]

Play Torres, surely he can manage another game 5 days later. Freiburg play on Saturday, admittedly they've nowt to play for in the league but I can't imagine they'll rest all their team.

[RamboandBruno]

Since the beginning of March, away from home in the league, they have lost to Wolves, lost to Brighton, beat Everton and lost to Manchester Utd in that order.
In the same period at home in the league, we’ve lost to Chelsea, beat West Ham and Sunderland and lost to Spurs. Not a lot in the iffy league form of both teams.
If you want to add in the various cup games, they’ve been battered by PSG and Man City away, we’ve battered Bologna and Forest at home.

Im never confident against these at home and in fact I don’t think Ive ever seen us beat them at VP, missing the games when we have. Our form is crap there’s is nothing to be worried about.

We have to go strong, anything else is too risky

Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Pau
Digne
Lindelof
Tielemans
McGinn
Watkins
Rogers
Beundia

2-1 (Watkins 2) and hope we can avoid injuries and these boys have enough in the tank for 5 days later.

[BoVillan esq]

I've gone for a Villa win...Whatever, probably doesn't make much sense, however, we are at home, that must be worth a point, providing we don't do something stupid like play a seriously weakened side we may just get it, Liverpool are vulnerable, Unai must keep the players focused on this game in my opinion, everything on this game, the final is a million miles away. 

[achilles]

It doesn’t matter what side Unai puts out as it is all about mentality and attitude which I expect to be sadly lacking! Unai is totally focused on the final so I expect an awful game (but who really cares) and with a 1 -1 outcome and we move on to the real game!

[ADVILLAFAN]

Play Torres, surely he can manage another game 5 days later. Freiburg play on Saturday, admittedly they've nowt to play for in the league but I can't imagine they'll rest all their team.

Freiburg have to win to guarantee a spot in Europe next Season, albeit Conference League.

[PaulWinch again]

We need our mentality right here - through our own poor attitude/standards in the league of late we haven’t left ourselves the luxury of relaxing in this game. We need a win so that we’re not risking chucking our eggs in one basket, which would add pressure to the Europa League.