The double over the Scousers is on, as is a treble of wins on-the-trot. Are Villa’s fortunes finally changing? UTV
Match Difficulty Grade
A- Ask Villa fans about the last time they faced Liverpool and they will most likely get misty-eyed and reminisce about the “good old days” – by that I mean the brief unbeaten run just before Christmas. Times have changed since then and form has been less consistent but there is the buzz of back-to-back wins around Villa Park. Liverpool however, will be up for the challenge of writing the wrongs of their toothless display at St Mary’s two weeks ago and trying to avoid being doubled by Villa. When they are at their best, they are a very capable side, and there’s no room for complacency from the claret and blue. At a bumper 41,000+ near capacity Villa Park, the Liverpool fans are also planning an anti-modern football display.
Form is Temporary
Current Premier League form table (last six games) – Aston Villa – 5th / Liverpool – 9th
Aston Villa: Last five Premier League matches at home: W 2, L 3
Liverpool: Last five Premier League matches away: W 1, D 2, L 2
In the last five meetings at Villa Park, Villa have won once, drawn once and lost three times.
Facts to Sweep Under the Carpet
It’s difficult to know whether we should be encouraged or worried about the fact that Liverpool suffered a 3-1 defeat to Southampton the other week. It might mean that Liverpool are nervous on their travels, but it’s more likely to be the case that they will be fired up to right a few wrongs.Everybody has lost track of what Brendan Rogers views as a realistic league target nowadays (it flitted somewhere between forth and second in what I read), but he obviously thinks he has a decent team on his hands. We haven’t got the greatest home record against Liverpool, and with the addition of the impressive Coutinho to the Liverpool ranks, this could be a tougher game than the one at Anfield last year.
What We Pray the Football Gods Will Provide
It would be fantastic to see an even performance from Villa across 90 minutes. The first half against QPR was a nightmare but Lambert clearly kicked a few butts at half time, and the result was a day and night improvement. Credit must be given to Villa for keeping going and responding to each of QPR’s goals. More of this on Sunday and we might just be okay.
Why Villa are Totally 100% Going to Win
Legend has it that Brendan Rogers has never seen his side win against a Paul Lambert side. In fact, it’s more than legend; Norwich did the double over Swansea last season. Surely this can only be a good omen. Villa fans have started to see signs of progress at Villa Park and a third win on the bounce would put a nail in the coffin of relegation fears. Although we lost at home to Manchester City recently, it was only a narrow victory for them and as a result of a mistake – a similar kind of performance against Liverpool might be enough to clinch it. While most have budgeted for a home point when predicting Villa’s outcome to the season, with Bent, Baker, and new ‘fan favourite’ Delph back in the frame, there’s no reason why we can’t make it three. UTV.
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