Anfield is the venue for this weekend’s Saturday Night Football, as Liverpool host Aston Villa in gameweek 4 of the Premier League. The away side are actually above Liverpool in the table at this extremely early stage. Villa are third, Liverpool are fifth. It’s been a very impressive start from Paul Lambert’s men.
Aston Villa are perhaps missing their star player, and a bogey player for Liverpool in the past, Christian Benteke. The Belgian missed the World Cup with a serious Achilles injury he suffered last season. With Benteke’s injury, Andi Weimann has stepped up in his absence. Weimann has notched two goals already this term.
The front three for Villa has been Gabriel Agbonlahor, Charles N’Zogbia and Andi Weimann. In that front three, there is a serious amount of pace; especially Agbonlahor and Weimann.
Villa, at Anfield, has been somewhat of a bogey fixture for Brendan Rodgers’ side in recent times. Liverpool managed to pull it back to 2-2 last season, after falling 2-0 down early on, and the season before, Villa ran rampant at Anfield, in a 3-1 victory. It’s obvious that their ability to counter attack at a dangerous speed is the main problem for these recent results.
Agbonlahor celebrates (AVFC.co.uk)
Liverpool, like Villa, won their last fixture, which seems an age ago now after the international break. They went to North London and demolished Tottenham, 3-0, in a performance which was almost perfect.
That win was brilliant, just before the international break. The international break itself, however, has been pretty terrible as far as Liverpool are concerned. Emre Can picked up a knee injury playing for Germany u21s, and could be out for as much as 6 weeks. Joe Allen picked up a minor knee injury, making him a doubt for Saturday’s match, after an impressive start from the Welsh international. And, probably the most damaging injury will be Daniel Sturridge’s. Sturridge picked up a thigh injury whilst training with England. Brendan Rodgers confirmed in his pre-Villa press conference that Sturridge will be out for around 3 weeks.
With Sturridge out, the gamble to take Balotelli on board doesn’t look too bad now, does it? I wonder what Rodgers will do with the side. The diamond was played against Spurs, with Sturridge and Balotelli the pair up top. Does he bring Lambert in, to partner Balotelli? Or does Rodgers revert back to a 4-3-3, or a 4-2-3-1? It will be very interesting to see.
Another option is playing Raheem Sterling as a second striker, making runs of Balotelli. That way, we could keep the successful diamond and still have that rapid pace up front. Because there is more than enough options to take Sterling’s role at the tip of the diamond. The likes of Coutinho, Markovic, and Lallana who comes into the squad this weekend.
With Joe Allen likely to be out, and Can definitely out, who does he bring in? That’s if we were to opt with the diamond. Coutinho was used there in games last season, and played very well. Lallana could possibly do it, too. Lucas Leiva is an option, one I wouldn’t want to see, however. I think it should be Coutinho, because he’s shown he’s more than capable of playing in that role.
Rodgers also confirmed that Glen Johnson still has some way to go before he’s returning to the squad, and that Martin Skrtel won’t make Saturday’s match. This most likely means that the back four will be kept the same from the Tottenham game, and rightly so, in my opinion. Manquillo at right back, Lovren and Sakho the pair in the centre, and Moreno on the left hand side.
There is also an argument that Brendan Rodgers could rest some players too. Ludogorets come to Anfield on Tuesday night, for Liverpool’s opening Champions League group fixture. Raheem Sterling has played two full games for England in the international break. Is there a case that Rodgers will keep him fresh, and prioritize for Liverpool’s return to the Champions League? Or will it be the other way round? Because, on paper, Ludogorets at Anfield is our easiest fixture of the group. So he might feel that he has enough strength in depth to cope with this busy period.
I want Adam Lallana to come straight into the side, as I think he will have no problems adapting to our style. I want him at the tip of the diamond, with Coutinho, Henderson and Gerrard completing the diamond. Markovic to come on and make an impact, although I wouldn’t at all be surprised if he started at the tip of the diamond.
I have absolutely no idea what the side will be, which is the great thing about having such strength in depth. I hope this is the side, but it’s probably not going to be 100% correct:
Via FansCorners.com
I predict a win for Liverpool, and even a clean sheet. I’m going for 2-0 Liverpool, and Mario Balotelli to get both of the goals on his home debut.
Bobby Vincent
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