| Tweet |
|
|
Aston Villa v Liverpool Prediction
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v Liverpool, 14:05
Author: Thomas Rooney 14/12/2011
Aston Villa will be hoping for home comforts this weekend when they host Liverpool at Villa Park on Sunday lunch-time.
Alex McLeish’s men secured their first away win of the season at Bolton last time out, but it is their home form that they will be concentrating on in the next few days. Following the visit of Liverpool, Arsenal are in town so this is a big week for the club.
It has been well documented that the home fans aren’t entirely convinced by McLeish and where he is taking the team, but positive results in these two games would give the whole place a lift going into the Christmas period.
On the surface of it, Villa are doing just fine anyway. They are 9th in the table, only two points adrift from Stoke City in 8th position. So, although many haven’t been happy with the way the team are performing, its not as if they are in danger of relegation or anything, so there is a platform to push on from.
Perhaps the Villa fans just want a more positive approach to proceedings. They have failed to score in three of their last four games and maybe it is time to let loose against teams, especially on home soil.
In Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor, they have two extremely threatening players and this is a threat they should perhaps be making more of. McLeish maybe needs to take a few more risks going forward before Villa can push on.
As for Liverpool, well they have had an extremely interesting season so far. They have performed exceptionally at times and frustratingly on other occasions. It appears they need plenty of chances to score, especially on home soil and this has cost them crucial points.
Looking at the table, they are five points adrift of a top four that is looking stronger and stronger each week, so if they are to push for the Champions League places this year, they need to have a positive Christmas period, starting with a win at Villa Park.
Can they do this though? Can they learn from the mistakes made during the 1-0 defeat at Fulham recently and pick up three crucial points? It seems a fair enough prediction to say that they will.
Villa will fancy themselves on home soil though and it will therefore be an entertaining one. However, with the likes of Luis Suarez ensuring Liverpool have that extra level of quality, it is the away side that will come away with the win.
Match bet: Liverpool @ 1/1 with Bet365 - (£200 100% deposit bonus)
Correct score prediction: Aston Villa 1:2 Liverpool @ 9.8 with Betfair
Watch Thomas Rooney and Pete South discuss the Aston Villa v Liverpool game below together with their own predictions on the match.