Read Aston Villa challenged the Editor of Read Liverpool Ben Smith to our 2 minute Q&A ahead of Saturday’s encounter. He lasted more than two minutes that’s for sure.
1. WHAT HAS GONE WRONG AT LIVERPOOL? 30 SECONDS.
Where do I start? The manager still doesn’t know who his best players are, what the best formation is and how he wants to play football.
The fact that he has already gone to a back three shows just how desperate Brendan Rodgers is at the moment. There’s no way he intended to use that system so early in the campaign. If that was the plan all along, why bring in Nathaniel Clyne rather than a wing-back? Why spend £29m on a player in Roberto Firmino who, in truth, hasn’t looked comfortable in any of the roles he’s undertaken so far.
There’s a complete lack of belief in the side. The players aren’t confident in one another’s ability. Philippe Coutinho – one of our best players – is reluctant to pass to any of his team-mates. Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel found themselves shooting from 40 yards out against Carlisle.
At Liverpool, there is a complete lack of ideas. And I think the writing is on the wall for the manager.
2. BEST PLAYER IN THE REDMEN SQUAD? 15 SECONDS.
Daniel Sturridge is still Liverpool’s best player as far as I’m concerned. One of the only things to smile about at Anfield over the past week has been his return to the fold.
It will take him a while to get back to his 2013-14 level, but it’ll be huge for the Reds if/when he does.
With Christian Benteke out of Saturday’s game, I’d like to see Sturridge partner Danny Ings up front. They could cause a few problems.
3. WHO DO YOU HATE IN THE VILLA SQUAD? 15 SECONDS.
Can’t really say I hate any of them. If you would have asked me last season I would have said Benteke because he always scored against us!
I’m not Kieran Richardson’s biggest fan. His hair alone is enough for me to choose him. He was once a useful player, though.
4. UNSUNG HERO IN THE LIVERPOOL SQUAD? 20 SECONDS.
Danny Ings. ‘Unsung’ may not be the right word to describe him at the moment seeing as he’s just scored two in two, but he’s a better fit for this title than anybody else at the moment.
Fans will compare any striker Liverpool sign to Luis Suarez, but that’s unfair, really. Ings knows he’s not going to be a Suarez, but he’s a grafter, he has a great attitude and that’s exactly what the fans want to see.
That’s not to take away from his quality, either. He’s an all-around better player than he is given credit for, and he deserves to be starting every week at the moment.
5. WILL RODGERS GO IF VILLA WIN? YES OR NO. 5 SECONDS.
Yes. I think he will. It would be one terrible result too many.
6. WHERE WILL THE GAME BE WON AND LOST? 30 SECONDS.
I think you’ll look to absorb any kind of pressure that we put on you and you’ll hit us on the counter. That’s been the blueprint in recent seasons, it seems.
Having said that, I can’t see us creating too much. Against Norwich, our biggest threat was Alberto Moreno. All you have to do is nullify the threat from out wide and you’ll probably be fine. Whether Tim Sherwood is pragmatic enough to do that, I’m not sure.
Villa will be full of confidence and on a high after their derby win in midweek even though their league form hasn’t been good. Jack Grealish, in particular, looks a real talent, and I think he’ll be a problem for Liverpool on Saturday just as he was in the FA Cup semi-final in April.
The pace of Gabby Agbonlahor will frighten the Reds’ defence, as will the physicality of Rudy Gestede if he plays.
7. PREDICTION? 5 SECONDS.
We seem to be drawing all our games 1-1 at the moment, and that’s exactly what I see happening on Saturday. Ings to get our goal.
