EPL 09/10 - Liverpool VS Aston Villa
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LIVERPOOL VS ASTON VILLA
CHANNEL 27 & 304, TUESDAY, 2.55am
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Alan Hansen’s Premier League Preview: Liverpool v Aston Villa
My old club Liverpool bounced back from their disappointing opening day defeat at Tottenham to rout Stoke 4-0 in midweek. Next up is an Aston Villa side who still seem to still be suffering from a hangover from last season’s poor end to the campaign. Rafa Benitez’ will be pleased to see how his team responded in midweek and they should be strong favourites this weekend as Villa look a weaker side than they did last season.
I was surprised at Villa’s defeat by Wigan but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were beaten at Anfield as their record against the Reds is not great. Aston Villa haven’t beaten Liverpool in their last 15 league clashes dating back to September 2001. This is a run of 9 defeats and 6 draws.
From what I’ve seen of both teams so far this season, I can’t believe that poor run is about to come to an end. Liverpool won this fixture 5-0 back in March after a Steven Gerrard hat-trick and he will be the man Villa need to watch out for again. After all, he has scored more goals against them (9) than any other team.
Villa need to recapture their early season form of last season when they produced some superb away results. However, the Villans have not won any of their last six away trips after previously winning seven on the bounce. The loss of Martin Laursen and Gareth Barry has left the team far more open defensively as both were key players in Martin O’Neill’s side. They were also two of the more experienced members of last season’s squad which suggests they may lack leadership and presence on the field.
Liverpool’s record at Anfield is very good; it’s been nearly 5 years since they last lost a home Premier League game to any team other than Chelsea or Manchester United and that was against Villa’s fierce rivals Birmingham. They’ve also been scoring goals for fun at Anfield too with 23 goals netted in the last six Premier League games so Villa face a real stern test particularly from Fernando Torres. The Spaniard has now scored six goals in his last 4 games at Anfield.
The momentum is with Liverpool so I’m backing Rafa’s team to win this match on Premier 10.
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Martin O'Neill Encourages Aston Villa To Get A Positive Result Against Liverpool
The Villan has spoken out encouraging his charges, believing that the trip to Anfield could set the tone for the rest of the season...
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has reminded his squad about the past, claiming that they can set the tone for the rest of the season with a positive result against Liverpool at Anfield.
Villa have made a disappointing start to the season after crumbling to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Wigan Athletic on the opening day, but the gaffer has reminded his charges of their loss to Stoke City last season, which was followed up by a goalless draw against the Reds."Last season we beat Manchester City at home, we then went to Stoke and got beaten by a very late goal and that was dispiriting to lose it," O'Neill is quoted by The Birmingham Mail as having said. "Then we fought back against Liverpool and drew at home with them... We’re capable of getting over it."
Meanwhile, the former Celtic manager confessed that he felt let down on the opening day of the season.
"It just wasn’t good enough," he grumbled.
Villa visit Anfield on Monday to play their second league fixture of the season.