Aston Villa vs Liverpool Sat (A) 3pm - League

[Dreambeliever]

Sheffield Utd gave us a real scare last time away from home and I think with Grealish Villa could too.

Back to full strength please Mr Klopp.

Becker
TAA
Lovren
VVD
Robertson
Gini
Henderson
Fabhino
Salah
Firmino
Mane

 

[Halmeister]

If Fabinho gets booked in this he will miss the City game, so I can see him missing this one.

 

[Frogfish]

If Fabinho gets booked in this he will miss the City game, so I can see him missing this one.

I bloody hope so. Assuming the worst and we lose to Villa without him it would still be worse to lose to City because he picked up a Yellow at Villa.

If we can't do without him at Villa we really are in the shit. Lallana can play there or drop Hendo/Gini back and bring in Ox.

 

[Dreambeliever]

I think that would be silly just tell him to stay on his feet.

If not then Milner I guess

 

[ibromurph]

Fab is an experienced pro. I'd expect him to play and not get booked.

He will probably get booked against City though and will miss a tough game away to Palace.

Hopefully, he can somehow pick up the yellow against Palace and miss the home game against Brighton.

 

[ibromurph]

I bloody hope so. Assuming the worst and we lose to Villa without him it would still be worse to lose to City because he picked up a Yellow at Villa.

If we can't do without him at Villa we really are in the shit. Lallana can play there or drop Hendo/Gini back and bring in Ox.

Lallana really can't play there as it showed last night. Hendo or Gini need to play there.

 

[Frogfish]

I'd start this team :

............................ Becker

TAA .......Gomez ............ VvD ........Robertson

..........................Henderson
Ox/Milner ....................................... Gini


Salah ................Firmino ...................Mane

 

[Frogfish]

Fab is an experienced pro. I'd expect him to play and not get booked.

He will probably get booked against City though and will miss a tough game away to Palace.

Hopefully, he can somehow pick up the yellow against Palace and miss the home game against Brighton.

Being an experienced Pro has nothing to do with it. If he plays his normal game there is always a chance (it's why he's picked up 4 already) because we've seen Yellows given for innocuous challenges before, it depends on the ref. If he is restrained then there's no point in starting him.

He is so important for the City match it would be stupid to start him and take the risk. We can do without him at Villa.

 

[Brizzle]

I'd rather have a Fabinho who is playing a bit within himself than someone covering him, but it is seriously important he doesn't get drawn into tackles. Isn't Grealish the most fouled player in the PL? If so - that isn't a good combo.

 

[Frogfish]

Lallana really can't play there as it showed last night. Hendo or Gini need to play there.

I'm not so sure. He retains possession well and can easily get himself out of tricky situations (and I don;t think last night demonstrated he can't play there). I'd assume we will be in possession most of the game and on the front foot so as he looks to play forward far more than Hendo he may be a better option there. No doubt Klopp would go Hendo/Gini/N]Milner though .... which I definitely don't have any issues with.

 

[Frogfish]

I'd rather have a Fabinho who is playing a bit within himself than someone covering him, but it is seriously important he doesn't get drawn into tackles. Isn't Grealish the most fouled player in the PL? If so - that isn't a good combo.

Indeed. I don't see why we should even be taking the risk and it's always going to be a risk.

 

[Brizzle]

I haven't watched enough of Villa, but if we expect them to park the bus and leave us with possession then I think having the double axis of Hendo & Gini - I just seriously hope it doesn't give us the dreaded Hendo, Gini & Milner trio.

 

[King Binny]

Dated 9 Oct 2019
[article]Expect stoppages where Villa are involved

On the theme of duels, Aston Villa have shown they are definitely up for the fight in the top flight. Dean Smith’s men are not only the most fouled team in the division (14 per game) – a direct consequence of having Jack Grealish in the side – but they have also committed the most too (12.5 per game). Added time is never in short supply when Villa are on the field.[/article]

 

[Modo]

Lallana really can't play there as it showed last night. Hendo or Gini need to play there.

Yep Lallana is too slow and weak for that position

 

[Markeh]

I don’t mind lallana but he can’t replace Fabinho in a league match. Physically he has none of the attributes that make Fabinho great at the position and he also has none of the experience and know how. It has to be Henderson imo, he did a job there for a reasonably long time, he can do it again.

Are we totally sure Klopp isn’t just going to trust Fabinho not to a get a card? Or at least hope for that.

 

[Modo]

Calm down people.
Fabinho has to start and if he gets a yellow, move Wijnaldum to DM and give Ox a start in midfield against City.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I bloody hope so. Assuming the worst and we lose to Villa without him it would still be worse to lose to City because he picked up a Yellow at Villa.

If we can't do without him at Villa we really are in the shit. Lallana can play there or drop Hendo/Gini back and bring in Ox.

I agree with this logic. However, I don't think there's a world in which Klopp does. He had the utmost trust in his players, for better & worse, so he'll trust Fabinho to be able to play without being booked.

I do in fact remember Fab picking up a yellow in a bag game really early last season & playing the rest of the game perfectly & managing to not get another card.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

I do in fact remember Fab picking up a yellow in a bag game really early last season & playing the rest of the game perfectly & managing to not get another card.

Also against Barca in the 2nd leg no?

 

[Frogfish]

I agree with this logic. However, I don't think there's a world in which Klopp does. He had the utmost trust in his players, for better & worse, so he'll trust Fabinho to be able to play without being booked.

I do in fact remember Fab picking up a yellow in a bag game really early last season & playing the rest of the game perfectly & managing to not get another card.

How often do we see players get cards they don't deserve (or think they deserve) though? It's a fine line we shouldn't tread IMO. I would HATE to go into the City game without him (also our 3rd top chance creator - with 13 so far this season - so we wouldn't just be losing his defensive shielding and passing).

 

[FoxForceFive]

Also against Barca in the 2nd leg no?

Was it Barca? Knew it was a big game, not which one.

Klopp will point to that as a reason why he can trust him to play, & play him. I wouldn't, but then Klopp's faith in his players is a huge part of the reason we are where we are, so I'm not really one to judge myself as knowing better than he!

 

[FoxForceFive]

Also against Barca in the 2nd leg no?

Was it Barca? Knew it was a big game, not which one.

Klopp will point to that as a reason why he can trust him to play, & play him. I wouldn't, but then Klopp's faith in his players is a huge part of the reason we are where we are, so I'm not really one to judge myself as knowing better than he!

 

[Brizzle]

Klopp's mentality is probably more likely to be - let's maximise our chances of 3 points in the Villa game, and then what will be will be for the next one.

 

[Ukrainian by marriage]

VIlla supporting mate says Grealish is doubtful for Saturday.

 

[Hyena]

Calm down people.
Fabinho has to start and if he gets a yellow, move Wijnaldum to DM and give Ox a start in midfield against City.

If we'll be fine against City without Fab, why can't we handle Villa without him?

That said, I'm pretty sure Klopp has the same mindset as you....

 

[Modo]

If we'll be fine against City without Fab, why can't we handle Villa without him?

That said, I'm pretty sure Klopp has the same mindset as you....

Obviously not ideal but it's not the end of the world is what I'm saying.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Calm down people.
Fabinho has to start and if he gets a yellow, move Wijnaldum to DM and give Ox a start in midfield against City.

Fabinho is easily our best & most defensive midfielder though, & we'll need that against city to have any chance of winning, imo.

We should be able to beat Villa without him. Ideal world he plays both & we win both, but it's a risk to do so, no point in pretending otherwise.

 

[Hyena]

Klopp's mentality is probably more likely to be - let's maximise our chances of 3 points in the Villa game, and then what will be will be for the next one.

Yes this sounds like Klopp's thinking

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Was it Barca? Knew it was a big game, not which one.

Booking
Posted at 11'
Fabinho (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48179167

 

[manwithnoname]

Calm down people.
Fabinho has to start and if he gets a yellow, move Wijnaldum to DM and give Ox a start in midfield against City.

Yeah, this seems OK to me. Henderson and Wijnaldum can play that DM role if required. And there's Milner too.

Nobody wants Lallana anywhere near the side, and thankfully Keita isn't even in the conversation, because he's a) rubbish and b) injured yet again

And if we need a hit and hope option, then Chamberlain has shown plenty of evidence to suggest that is his major strength

 

[Frogfish]

Obviously not ideal but it's not the end of the world is what I'm saying.

Fine lines. Fabs could be the difference. Clearly our chances increase with him.

City is a 6 pointer and will greatly affect the confidence of whoever wins/loses. I wonder if Klopp is having this conversation with Pep.