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FT: ASTON VILLA 0-0 LIVERPOOL

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PLEASE NOTE: I am creating this thread because of the apparent recent bannings of RKW and GBRK. I created pre-season match threads and so I would be happy to carry on this duty, but also if either RKW or GBRK return, I will gladly stop creating them.

KICK OFF:
16:00
BROADCAST: Sky Sports 1 & HD1, 15:30 - 18:30

Aston Villa and Liverpool played out a 0-0 bore draw at Villa Park this afternoon. Liverpool arrived looking to continue their 100% start to the season, while Aston Villa gave Liverpool a good run for their money with a very pacy counter-attacking display.

There were hardly any chances of note in a dire first half, during which Martin Skrtel picked up his first yellow card of the season for a rash challenge on John Carew. Liverpool were without Steven Gerrard after the captain underwent a groin operation, and Liverpool received another blow on the half hour mark as Fernando Torres limped off with a hamstring injury.

The second half was much brighter than the opening 45 minutes, and there were numerous chances which never brought any goals, mostly in Villa's favour. James Milner forced a save from Pepe Reina with a drive from outside the box, and Martin Laursen headed wide later on. At the other end, Robbie Keane was set through on goal with a superb pass but the Irishman took too long on the ball and Nigel Reo-Coker was able to charge back and distract him. Keane and manager Rafa Benitez wanted a penalty but the referee wasn't interested.

Liverpool's lack of width was again a major contributing factor to a disappointing performance with Benitez persisting with Dirk Kuyt on the right, and bizarrely choosing Lucas for the left side of midfield. With the transfer window almost shut, it looks crucial that Liverpool complete the signing of Albert Riera to bring some width to the side, and the Reds will also be hoping that Gerrard will be able to return for the visit of Manchester United.


LIVE SCOREBOARD
.

ASTON VILLA

0

football

LIVERPOOL

0

football

TEAMS

ASTON VILLA:

1 Friedel, 2 Luke Young (Milner 64'), 5 Laursen, 15 Davies, 21 Shorey (Gardner 79'), 20 Reo-Coker, 19 Petrov, 6 Barry, 7 Ashley Young, 10 Carew, 11 Agbonlahor.
Subs: 22 Guzan, 8 Milner, 9 Harewood, 16 Knight, 17 Salifou, 18 Routledge, 26 Gardner.

LIVERPOOL:
25 Reina, 17 Arbeloa, 23 Carragher, 37 Skrtel, 2 Dossena, 18 Kuyt (Aurelio 70'), 14 Alonso, 20 Mascherano, 21 Lucas, 7 Keane (Benayoun 79'), 9 Torres (Ngog 30').
Subs: 1 Cavalieri, 5 Agger, 12 Aurelio, 15 Benayoun, 19 Babel, 24 Ngog, 31 El Zhar.

KEY UPDATES

13:
Martin Skrtel booked for a rash challenge against John Carew.

30: Fernando Torres replaced by David Ngog due to a hamstring injury.

64: Luke Young replaced by James Milner.

67: Andrea Dossena booked for throwing the ball away in frustration.

70: Dirk Kuyt replaced by Fabio Aurelio.

79: Robbie Keane replaced by Yossi Benayoun.

79: Nicky Shorey replaced by Craig Gardner.

LAST MATCHES

ASTON VILLA:
Aston Villa 1-1 FH Hafnarfjordur (UEFA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg)
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool 1-0 Standard Liege (aet) (Champions League 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg)
HEAD TO HEAD: Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa (Barclays Premier League 2007/08)

TOP SCORERS (PREMIER LEAGUE)
.
Aston Villa
G Agbonlahor3
J Carew2
M Laursen1
Liverpool
S Gerrard1
F Torres1

TBH'S VERDICT

Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool

Latest 10 comments

Read members' comments or add your own

posted Aug 31, 2008

Can't even beat Liverpool at home, with Gerrard and Torres sitting on the sidelines!rofl
Top 4 challenge!laughdoh

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comment by U12290012

posted Aug 31, 2008

THANNK YOU ASTON VILLA applause

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posted Aug 31, 2008

xxClairexx - The Ultimate Toffee


Don't know why you are in on this, I should think you have enough to worry about.

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posted Aug 31, 2008

Both teams were good in their own way. We should have attacked more and fed the ball to gabby and carew better but you gotta respect Liverpools defence they really tested our CF and our wingers but NRC and Laursen were brilliant and Milner suprised Liverpool which was an eye opener. EXCELLENT last 15mins we totally buillied Liverpool which we have to do.

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posted Aug 31, 2008

zabolous/blue in barca, what are you doing on a prem 606? your a chumpionship supporter. Yet again you looked into your crystal ball and got it wrong AGAIN! Today you said we would lose 4-0, you said you would beat us at Villa park, you said you wouldn't be relegated and you said we wouldn't be in europe. Do you get up every morning and think " I was a total kn ob yesterday how can I be an even bigger one today? I know, I will talk about something I know jack all about....FOOTBALL! Your hatred of us just show you up for what you are...pitiful, great crowd on your last home game btw, 17k was it? Pathetic.

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posted Aug 31, 2008

Ha ha a bluenose scratching for support on the liverpool boards from a brummie team who drew at home against an under strength liverpool team. You bitters have found a new low!! We fought hard today and are slowly finding our feet in the new season with olympiads just returning home. joint top without getting out of first gear.
3-0 at home??? Stanley Park covers a void between our teams and you know it.

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posted Aug 31, 2008

I did predict that fair result, before Torres went off injured leaving a fairly average team on the pitch!
And you couldn't even win then, in the Scouse's worst case scenario!laugh
Top Four!
laughlaugh
rofl

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posted Aug 31, 2008

Well.

I predicted the draw, but I did think there'd be goals in it. doh

Can someone explain to me the following:

Why did he bring Aurelio on? I don't think he did anything at all, and fail to see how he was an appropriate swap for Kuyt?

Benny came on too late, and anyway, I'd have ditched Ngog rather than Keane, who was much better once he was allowed to come in to the centre. Another question: Why RK on the left? I don't get it.

Ngog was pretty useless in my view - he was sending balls into space, but there were no grey shirts anywhere near them!

We had a complete lack of creativity, which is worrying. Are we really this terrible when Gerrard and Torres don't play?

Overall, I thought we were pretty average at best, but then I realised that we succeeded in closing down Ashley Young, so there was little service in to the Villa strikers, so maybe that's a mild positive we can take with our point?

Reina was solid, and of the two keepers he needed to be since we troubled Friedel hardly at all.

I really thought Villa would have played more positively given that they were the home side, but perhaps someone has already explained that on here...I'll have to go back and read the other comments.

I imagine Rafa is happy with the defenders, but he is going to have to figure out some magic if we expect to do anything against United once the league resumes. whistle

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posted Sep 1, 2008

Can't even beat Liverpool at home, with Gerrard and Torres sitting on the sidelines!
Top 4 challenge!

-----------------------------------------------
lol zab you couldn't even hold on when you were 2 up against liverpools reserves at the sty! laugh
come to that you didn't even beat derby

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posted Sep 1, 2008

Yes but we don't make rash claims along the lines of "We can break the top 4" do we!laugh

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