Aston Villa v Liverpool Pre-Match Thread

[Richard]

Not sure why Liverpool would settle for a draw against a half-arsed Villa.

According to their supporters they are as half arsed as us currently.

[cdbearsfan]

They have no specific reason to be half-arsed, though, we have a massive final on Wednesday.

[aldridgeboy]

I think he rests Martinez, Digne  Konsa, Pau, SJM, Tielemans and Ollie. He should rest Rogers, but won't.

I hope players coming in "give him something to think about" for Wednesday.(Lindleof being the exception as hell be great anyway)

[Somniloquism]

Aston Villa remain without Amadou Onana for Friday night’s Premier League encounter against Liverpool at Villa Park (ko 8pm).

The midfielder was forced off due to injury in the first leg of the club’s UEFA Europa League semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

Onana subsequently missed the clash against Tottenham Hotspur, second leg against The Reds and last weekend’s trip to Burnley.

The Belgium international joins Alysson and long-term absentee Boubacar Kamara on the sidelines.

Manager Unai Emery provided an injury update at Thursday’s pre-match media conference.

“We have the same players out,” he said.

“Amadou Onana is not available for tomorrow, Alysson as well is not, Kamara as well is not.

“But other players should be ready to play tomorrow.”

[Crown Hill]

I think he rests Martinez, Digne  Konsa, Pau, SJM, Tielemans and Ollie. He should rest Rogers, but won't.

I hope players coming in "give him something to think about" for Wednesday.(Lindleof being the exception as hell be great anyway)

Lindelof is probably the one to rest unless Onana will be fit for the Final. He looked v tired against Burnley!

[ADVILLAFAN]

Gosh I am shocked that Onana is out.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

From his presser, it sounds like Unai is well up for tomorrow, none of this rest all the players nonsense. A repeat of the Forest semi final game wouldn't go amiss. At least play the strongest XI for the first 60-70 minutes, 4-0 up, then you can make a change or three.

Liverpool can wait for a week on Sunday to confirm their CL spot with wave Salah goodbye, comfortable home win against Brentford.

[Dogtanian]

What on earth will Slot think the fireworks are for this time?

[Rudy Can't Fail]

What on earth will Slot think the fireworks are for this time?

His sacking though I hope he stays there forever.

[andyh]

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to win tomorrow, get to 62 points and be uncatchable by Bournemouth.
That would make tomorrow night very special, and a great send off for Wednesday.

[eamonn]

Yeah, I don't want another PL team getting into the land of milk and honey even if they're one of the cuddly B teams. So, beat Liverpool and Citeh ffs.

[RamboandBruno]

I think going strong with a better chance of winning, sealing the CL deal and being more relaxed and on a high for the final, outweighs the possible negatives of fatigue and God forbid injuries.
I think recent weeks and months have clearly shown us, if we don’t play our strongest team in the second half of the season, we struggle against most, even a not very functional Liverpool.

[Sexual Ealing]

After the Spurs game, it's clear Emery plays the odds. If so, this will be a similar approach to then. I can't bring myself to agree with it, but I can see the appeal: there's a good chance Brighton and/or Bournemouth drop points; there's a great chance that we win a European trophy, which also leads to Champions League; there's a slim-to-decent chance, but a chance nonetheless, that we get whatever points we need on the last day.

I'd struggle to argue too much with it.

[BHJ81]

Apologies if this doesn’t belong in this thread. I’m heading over to the match from Ireland for the first time in 20 years. I was just looking for some advice. What’s a good time to head out to the ground? What’s the pre match like around the ground? Will it be easy to get a drink etc? TIA