Premier League Televised Game Preview: Aston Villa v Liverpool

Premier League / Richard Walker / 29 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

With unimpressive midweek performances in Europe behind them, it's back to the bread and butter for both these sides at Villa Park on Sunday.

We can only hope Rafa Benitez doesn't decide to bore us witless with some ultra-defensive 5-5-0 formation. Trouble is, much as I'd love to suggest this'll be a cracker, he knows it's away fixtures at teams like Martin O'Neill's Villa that's he must approached with caution this term.

Too early to be marked as season-defining, the game will show just how Villa are continuing their improvement under the Irish jumpy-spider of the dugout dwellers. It's been goals galore in their two league matches. On the right side of a six-goal opener at home to Man City, they then went down by the odd goal in five at Stoke.

Contrast that with the Reds who've needed three goals in the last 10 minutes of their initial couple of games to take maximum points. Benitez's tactics are, without exception, frustrating to watch for the neutral, let alone, say, a Koppite who has to live and breathe them every weekend.

Oh, and Steven Gerrard won't be about - just in case the Spaniard was thinking of a rare foray into the world of expansive, attack-minded awayday performances.
Shame really, since we could have seen Gerrard v Gareth Barry in central midfield and you'd have thought the Liverpool man would have wanted to stamp his mark all over that duel, just to reiterate who's top dog should Barry ever get his wish and turn up at Anfield.

We'll have to make do with watching the left-footer put everything into showing what the Reds are missing. Who knows, he might get booed and cheered by both sets of fans at various times.

On to matters financial, and it's a lay-day for me. Laying Liverpool to a [2.6] liability keeps the spectre of a draw on your side. If you'd rather be bolder, hosts Villa are [3.1] to back while the visitors' odds are roughly [2.58] - a bit skinny for me given their top man's absence.

Given their goal threat, it'll be interesting to see if the Villains can break down one of the most stubborn defences. If they do, likely John Carew might do the necessary feather-ruffling. He might be worth a look when the First Goalscorer market develops - something around [10.0] might tempt you.

This'll eiher be 1-0 either way or 5-5; nearer the former than the latter if Benitez get's his way. So, neatly-sidestepping the Over/Under 2.5 goals recommendation, I'm happy to advise you to select from Unders at [1.75] or the [2.04] about Overs.

As I said, not season-defining this one, but could put down an important marker for Villa's self-belief should they win.