Aston Villa (H) - Sun 22nd May, 16:00 (BST) | Pre-Match Thread

[the-ecstacy-of-eight]

While it's true that Liverpool aren't playing well (by their standards), I'm afraid it's the kind of "not well" where they still win 95% of their games, and simply never lose.

They are also the experts at going behind & coming back to win. Something we struggle with for some reason (partly because - unlike Liverpool - we rarely go behind ... but still, our comebacks are few & far between whereas they've had another couple this month).

We struggle to do this because in 90% of the games we play, teams set up to defend and to attempt hit us on the break. If the opposition scores they then just do away with the "hit them on the break" bit and defend with 9/10 defenders camped in an around their own box for the duration of the game.

Livarpool don't seem to face this tactic so much, their games are a lot more open and the opposition "have a go" more, and as a result their long ball tactics pay dividends.

You can't really argue with their results, but it's apples and oranges to a degree.

 

[cibaman]

Good to see Stones and Walker training.

 

[razman]

 

[kippaxwarrior]

Stones and Walker in full training

 

[Tricky_Trev]

Huge news!

 

[Rhapsody in Blue]

Stones and Walker in full training

Wow, that made my day

 

[razman]

 

[Horlocksleftpeg]

Great news about stones and Walker and allows us to play near enough our strongest 11

Ederson
Walker Stones Laporte Cancelo
DeBruyne Rodri Bernardo
Sterling Jesus Foden

4-0

 

[blue b4 the moon]

Big change of odds overnight...

Prices were City 2/7 now we're 1/7.

Dips were 7/2 now 5/1.

Either shed loads going on us or maybe whispers we have some defenders fit?

My post from a couple of hours ago, looks like the latter from reports that John & Kyle are training and that perhaps someone was indeed 'tipped off'.

 

[mdj0520]

Great news about stones and Walker and allows us to play near enough our strongest 11

Ederson
Walker Stones Laporte Cancelo
DeBruyne Rodri Bernardo
Sterling Jesus Foden

4-0

That's what I'd go for too.

Half of our fan base moan and moan about sterling's finishing, but when he's in the side we create more because he pulls players all over the place.