Liverpool travel to Aston Villa for a Saturday afternoon kick-off. Liverpool have recently found some form, which seemed impossible to come by in the early stages of the season.
Liverpool came away with a narrow 1-0 victory against Sunderland last week to bolster their top four ambitions. Liverpool must keep their target alive with a win at Villa Park. Liverpool’s away form has been good this season, as opposed to their home form. If Liverpool manage to keep a clean sheet, it will be the first time since 2008 that they have kept three clean sheets in a row away from home.
Aston Villa are on a dreadful run and Paul Lambert, the manager, has come under a lot of pressure from the Villa supporters. Villa lost to struggling Leicester City, 1-0 last week in a scrappy affair. Aston Villa’s main issue has been the amount of goals they have scored. Paul Lambert’s side have only scored eleven goals all campaign, which, in truth, is abysmal.
Christian Benteke is Villa’s main man. The Belgian powerhouse will without doubt cause Liverpool’s shaky defence problems come Saturday, 15:00.
Paul Lambert at the King Power (avfc.com)
There’s a rumoured team doing the rounds on social media again. Here it is:
(fanscorners.com/liverpool/squad-selector/)
This is the team that beat Sunderland last Saturday, bar Gerrard out and Raheem Sterling returning. Fabio Borini retains his place in the side after a decent performance at the Stadium of Light. Borini played well but lacked that clinical touch, which pretty much sums up the Italian’s play. If he could add that finishing touch to his game, Borini could be a really good player.
Raheem Sterling has returned from his holiday and returns to the side. Sterling’s legs should be refreshed and I think he could be instrumental in Liverpool’s attacking play. Coutinho is undroppable at the moment and I think he’ll do exceptionally again. Lazar Markovic keeps his place in the side after a man-of-the-match performance against Sunderland. Alberto Moreno on the other side.
Jordan Henderson and Lucas Leiva had very good games, too, against Sunderland. Lucas is integral to Liverpool’s defensive play at the moment and balance between defence and attack. Lucas has been linked with a move away from the club, but Brendan Rodgers was quick to put those rumours to bed in his weekly press conference.
Martin Skrtel is in the middle of the back three. Since the change of system, I think the Slovakian has improved and looks more comfortable in the system as opposed to a two. This could be down to the personnel beside him or just personal preference, but he definitely looks better than before. Skrtel, this week, has been rumoured to have been offered a new contract at the club.
Mamadou Sakho has been the subject of praise recently by Brendan Rodgers, and against Sunderland, he was again, brilliant. He’s our best defender by a considerable amount, in my opinion. Sakho looks a lot better in a three at the back system, too. I remember thinking how good he looked in the 3-5-2 we tried at times last season.
Emre Can, who recently turned 21, keeps his place in the side, too. Can has impressed me since moving further back into the right centre-back role. Against Sunderland, he moved further up the pitch because of Steven Gerrard’s early and unplanned substitution. Can was excellent there, too. He looks like a real player and is still so young.
Steven Gerrard misses out through injury. Jordon Ibe, who was recently called back from his loan spell at Derby County, is supposedly on the bench for the Villa encounter. It will be good to see the 19 year-old get some minutes and show us his progression. Adam Lallana is likely to be on the bench, too, as he is ahead of schedule in his return from injury. Daniel Sturridge and Joe Allen aren’t quite ready but are expected to return in the coming weeks. Glen Johnson returned to training this week, so could make the substitutes bench.
I think Liverpool will win this game in impressive fashion. 3-0 Liverpool. Lazar Markovic to continue his goalscoring form. Raheem Sterling, perhaps, too.
Bobby Vincent
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