Liverpool vs Aston Villa 2015
A morale-boosting win in the Second City derby has calmed the fears of Villa fans – for now anyway. Meanwhile, Brendan Rodgers is under pressure and will be hoping for a win against bogey team Villa. Both teams won in the cup during the week, but which team will carry on the momentum?
Villa are winless in five league games for the first time under Sherwood.
Rodgers on Villa
“Watching them in the week, in particular in the second half, I thought they were fluent and I thought they played very well.
“They’ve got some talented players. They obviously lost some players in the summer but they’ve got some very good players.
“The young boy Grealish is a top talent who plays with freedom, has real good technical ability, can beat a player – so he’s one we have to watch.
“Scott Sinclair is a player that I know very, very well and I’m delighted to see him resurrect his career and get back playing. He’s got a goal, he’s fast, he’s got quality.
“And they’ve got other players that can be dangerous so for us we know it’s going to be a difficult game but the focus is on ourselves, the importance of our own game and how we can hopefully get the result.”
Sherwood on Liverpool
“It’s always a good time to go to that stadium. It’s a magnificent football club with so much history – a great place.
“I always enjoyed going there as a player and now as manager. It’s a great place to go.
“We’re not taking too much notice of how they’ve done recently.
“I did see that they played the other night. They won – and had 45 shots at goal. I think the Carlisle goalkeeper is having a few weeks off.”
Sherwood on Anfield
“You can imagine these guys coming from the French League when they come here they’re looking at the fixtures – Old Trafford – they’ll love that – and going to Anfield with the history too.
“I still enjoy going there and did when I was a player and now as a manager.
“The hair will stand up on the back of your neck when they sing ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’.
“When that game kicks off they’ve got to stop admiring. They’re not there taking their cameras and autograph books – they’re there to win a football match and we’ve got to believe that we can do that.
“We’ve got every chance to.”
Memory Match
19th April 2015 Aston Villa 2 Liverpool 1
Goals from Benteke and Delph saw Villa come back from a goal down against Rodger’s men in the FA Cup semi-final.
Liverpool – Last five matches at home: W 2, D 1, L 2
Villa – Last five matches away: W 1, L 4
Villa have lost just once during the last five visits to Anfield
One to Watch
Facts to Sweep Under the Carpet
A win against Birmingham City was the perfect tonic after some disappointing results in the league, offering a good distraction from form that can only be described as woeful.
In 2015, no side other than Newcastle has lost as many Premier League games (16) as Villa, worrying considering their struggles.
We’ve lost six and won just once during our last eight league games, and are now winless in five league games for the first time under Sherwood.
We only need to look back to the last time we played Liverpool in the cup as a reminder of the positive work Sherwood has done for the club, but results need to improve.
“The young boy Grealish is a top talent who plays with freedom, has real good technical ability, can beat a player – so he’s one we have to watch” – Rodgers ON grealish
What We Pray the Football Gods Will Provide
One thing Sherwood has improved upon at Villa? Goals.
We’ve scored in each of our last eight league away games after failing to score in the six games before this run, but good results haven’t always followed.
In his defence Sherwood has had to work with a much-changed Villa side, but heading into October it would be nice to see improved performances from the recent transfer additions – and more goals from players such as Ayew!
Sherwood threw Ayew into the mix during mid-week and the ex-Lorient forward impressed during a fierce derby atmosphere. Veretout also impressed and could play a part in unlocking a nervous Liverpool defence.
With Gana looking like he might be involved on Saturday too, lets hope we see more impressive performances from Sherwood’s new recruits as they adjust to our league.
Why Villa Have Got This Game in the Bag
While it’s fair to call Villa Liverpool’s bogey team, we can’t pretend to enjoy much success against them at Villa Park.
Ahead of Saturday’s match that won’t be a problem though, as none of the last eight meetings between the teams have ended as a home win!
Rodgers has been quizzed on his Liverpool future recently and against a team known for causing upsets at Anfield, the atmosphere could be tense.
In normal circumstances Villa fans would be fearing the goals of Benteke, but the Belgian striker is injured.
To add to Liverpool’s woes, their poor form is their worst since the beginning of Rodgers’ tenure – they’re on a four game winless run in the league.
League Two Carlisle United ran them close in the week and the extra 30 minutes could have a detrimental effect on Rodger’s side, who have conceded seven goals in their last three games.
Unbeaten in our last four matches at Anfield, we enjoy our trips to Liverpool. With confidence and bragging rights after Tuesday’s win, let’s hope we can pile more misery on Brendan Rodgers’ Reds.
UTV.
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