The Liverpool Offside - Liverpool v. Aston Villa, 12.15.12Zeppeline, Trinken, & Pink Badeshortshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51345/ltos-fav.png2012-12-15T18:06:17+00:00http://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/rss/stream/35296372012-12-15T18:06:17+00:002012-12-15T18:06:17+00:00Recap: A Most Dismal Display
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<figcaption>Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool fall apart after Christian Benteke's opener, getting only a late consolation after producing one of their worst performances of the season.</p> <p>So that was the same as nearly every other time, which makes writing the recap some sort of sadomasochistic endeavor in which I'm not quite prepared to engage. Just a supremely disappointing performance, especially given they fought back against West Ham after they'd gone about their business in a style somewhat similar to what we saw today. Good for the first fifteen, absolutely dreadful after.</p>
<p>Some bullet points, as I've got little interest in re-treading familiar ground today:</p>
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<li> <span>Joe Allen</span>, <span>Steven Gerrard</span>, and <span>Raheem Sterling</span> need to be rested. Yes, the squad is small, but they're taking away more than they're providing right now. Allen's continued his worrying slide, Gerrard's mostly the same (which isn't a good thing), and Sterling was an attacking graveyard today. For Sterling and Allen it seems to be a product of fatigue and playing too much, while Gerrard just hasn't had much to offer at all thus far under Brendan Rodgers. </li>
<li>The defending on all three Villa goals was absurd. Allen takes some sort of blame in all three, particularly the first two--chased the ball and left <span>Christian Benteke</span> alone for the first, didn't track <span>Andreas Weimann</span> on the second, and failed to dispossess Bentenke for the third. The last one would have been a big ask, and Martin Skrtel's indecision left the big Belgian completely free. For a side that's openly spoken about their steel and solidity at the back, all three were awfully soft from a defensive standpoint. If you're Villa they were superb, but preventable from the Liverpool standpoint. </li>
<li>Inability to finish is nothing new, and yet again it bit Liverpool in the ass. A flurry of chances in the opening minutes and a fair few sprinkled throughout, but nothing to truly test <span>Brad Guzan</span> until Gerrard managed to be in the right place at the right time to nod in <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool's</a> only goal of the day. Far too many breaks and clear chances were wasted. The narrative. It never dies. </li>
<li>
<span>Stewart Downing</span> was probably Liverpool's best on the day. I feel like I should be saying that ironically or with some sort of caveat, but I don't think there is one. It's certainly an indictment of the rest of the squad, but the converted left-back was solid at both ends and had one of his more consistent displays of the season. Still don't think he's around past January, but a much more positive performance.</li>
<li>Rodgers was lauded earlier in the season for changes he's made to keep Liverpool in matches, and rightly so. On this occasion, though, he made the same substitutions as last time with little effect. Villa were more adaptable than West Ham, and Rodgers didn't seem to have much of an answer. </li>
<li>Bringing Jordan Henderson on was a good choice because the young midfielder's in the best patch of form of his Liverpool career, but taking Lucas off and leaving the aforementioned Allen and Gerrard on was puzzling. Henderson deserves a start at this point, but Rodgers' other substitution--Joe Cole--did little to continue the positive sentiment that's been extended his way over the past few weeks. </li>
<li>Just as last week didn't make Liverpool's season some sort of massive success, this week doesn't mean that everything's gone completely to shit. On the day it did, no question. But overall there's still a sense of some sort of progress, even if the inconsistency in execution is maddening. We know today exactly what we did last Sunday--Liverpool are capable of being very good for spells and very bad for others. Today the latter dominated despite flashes of the former, and it conspired to give <a href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Aston Villa</a> a very deserved victory. </li>
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https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2012/12/15/3770204/liverpool-1-villa-3-premier-league-review-Ed-2012-12-15T11:00:24+00:002012-12-15T11:00:24+00:00Matchday: Liverpool v. Villa
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<figcaption>Clive Brunskill</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool host Aston Villa at Anfield with a view to getting their third consecutive Premier League win.</p> <p><b>K</b><b>ickoff:</b> 3:00PM GMT/10:00AM EST</p>
<p><b>Ways to Watch:</b> FuelTV in the US and FoxSoccer2Go for subscribers.</p>
<p><b>Preview: </b><a target="_blank" href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/12/14/3765424/match-preview-liverpool-v-aston-villa-premier-league-12-15-12">Liverpool v. Aston Villa</a><a href="http://liverpool.theoffside.com/2012/11/10/3627064/match-preview-chelsea-v-liverpool-11-11-12-premier-league-team-news" target="_blank"></a></p>
<p><b>Comment:</b> <a href="../../account/setup?community_id=373" target="_blank">Join the conversation on the Liverpool Offside</a></p>
<p align="center"><img alt="liverpool blog fc sbn" src="http://cdn1.sbnation.com/images/blog/star-divide.v5e9d7f1.jpg" style="border: 5px solid white;"></p>
<p><b>Liverpool: </b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Johnson Skrtel Agger Downing<br>Lucas<br>Gerrard Allen<br>Shelvey Suarez Sterling</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Bench: Jones, Wisdom, Suso, Cole, Carragher, Henderson, Coates</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><b>Aston Villa:</b></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Guzan<br>Lowton Baker Clark Lichaj<br>Holman Westwood Bannan Herd<br>Weimann Benteke</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><i></i>Bench: Given, Bowery, El Ahmadi, N’Zogbia, Bennett, Delph, Albrighton</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2012/12/15/3768914/matchday-liverpool-v-aston-villa-premier-league-team-news-Ed-2012-12-15T02:34:26+00:002012-12-15T02:34:26+00:00Open Thread: Pre-Villa Overnight
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<figcaption>Scott Heavey</figcaption>
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<p>Five questions to pass the time as we wait for kickoff from Anfield. </p> <p>A quick note before the questions for the open thread--I assume everyone's aware of what happened earlier today at an elementary school in a small town in Connecticut, and if not, you probably will be at some point in the near future. Goes without saying that our thoughts are with the victims of the families and those otherwise affected. School should be a fun, challenging, <i>safe</i> environment for our children, and to see that safety ripped away so quickly and violently was terrifying. As a father to a young son and a husband to a wonderfully gifted elementary school teacher, I've found it impossible to avoid personalizing what happened today, and while that's a fairly selfish response, it's also one I'd guess many others experienced in some shape or form. The process of recovery for everyone will no doubt be impossibly difficult, but hopefully those affected receive the support and care they need at this time.</p>
<p>With that said, onto the questions for the night shift:</p>
<p>1) Pick two from Andre Wisdom, Glen Johnson, Jose Enrique, and Stewart Downing.</p>
<p>2) Joe. Cole. Joe Cole. JOE COLE! Joe Cole?</p>
<p>3) Who flanks Luis Suarez?</p>
<p>4) What's the score at the break?</p>
<p>5) When does Jordan Henderson come on?</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2012/12/15/3768722/liverpool-villa-overnight-open-thread-Ed-2012-12-14T16:32:19+00:002012-12-14T16:32:19+00:00Preview: Liverpool v. Aston Villa
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<figcaption>Christopher Lee</figcaption>
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<p>Liverpool host Aston Villa tomorrow on the heels of three straight wins in all competitions and two in league, with an eye on climbing the table further against a Villa side that have struggled to climb out of the bottom part of the Premier League table. </p> <p>Optimism is a scary, scary feeling, and ahead of tomorrow we're faced with having yet another reason for feeling hopeful about where Liverpool's headed. That's completely wonderful, of course, but it's also terrifying as hell after one false dawn after another in the past three seasons. Almost the entire narrative surrounding Liverpool is one of renewed promise just weeks after it was one of disaster, and while there's every possibility it returns to the latter, a win tomorrow would only strengthen talk that Liverpool aren't quite the parody some would have you believe.</p>
<p>Most of us have known that for awhile, with measured expectations and a general awareness that struggles don't necessarily indicate a lack of progress. During a month that many have earmarked as a make-or-break period in the club's season--at least ahead of January, which is, you know, a make-or-break period in the club's season--the chance to experience continued success is plenty of fodder for more of the emotional lability we experienced last weekend, even if it comes against a squad that hasn't been quite as successful.</p>
<p>Paul Lambert's had a hell of a time in his first season as <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://7500toholte.sbnation.com/">Aston Villa</a> manager, with much of time spent staving off a spot in the bottom three. Their points total is at least far better than <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/reading">Reading</a> and QPR (who sit on 9 and 7 points respectively), but they're currently relying on goal differential to stay out of the bottom three. Results recently have been more encouraging--they're unbeaten in their last five, most recently coming out with a 4-1 win in the League Cup at Lambert's old side, Norwich, to progress to the semifinals. They also beat Reading at the end of November, with draws with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a>, Stoke, and QPR over the past few weeks as well.</p>
<p>Neither of <span>Darren Bent</span> or <span>Ron Vlaar</span> will feature tomorrow because of injury (even though the forward's been out of favor when fit), and apparently <span>Gabby Agbonlahor</span> is a question as well. Lambert's relied on a handful of regulars throughout his first season in the West Midlands; Brad Guzan's been a mainstay in goal, <span>Matthew Lowton</span> and <span>Ciaran Clark</span> have featured most often in defense with <span>Barry Bannan</span>, <span>Stephen Ireland</span>, <span>Ashley Westwood</span>, and <span>Karim El Ahmadi</span> in the midfield and summer signing <span>Christian Benteke</span> expected to start up top and <span>Andreas Weimann</span> a possibility as well.</p>
<p>For <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a>:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Reina<br>Wisdom Skrtel Agger Johnson<br>Lucas<br>Allen Gerrard<br>Shelvey Suarez Sterling</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">As Noel mentioned yesterday, the fitness of <span>Jose Enrique</span> remains the biggest question ahead of tomorrow. And, as has been the case recently, whether or not he's available will have an impact throughout the squad. No other big concerns, thankfully, with long-term absentees <span>Fabio Borini</span> and <span>Martin Kelly</span> the only sure misses.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I've decided that I'll pick <span>Andre Wisdom</span> until I'm right, so ANDRE WISDOM AT RIGHT BACK. But seriously, it makes sense tomorrow just like it did every other time I've guessed it in the past two months--he's healthy, Enrique's not, and <span>Glen Johnson's</span> the best fullback going in English football. Unless you're stuck on the narrative from four years ago, in which case whatever, but as long as Wisdom's ready I think Brendan Rodgers can avoid <span>Stewart Downing</span> at left back. Which means Stewart Downing will be starting at left back with Glen Johnson on the right.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Seeing Joe Allen on a spell of relatively extended rest is an exciting prospect, and he'll join Lucas and <span>Steven Gerrard</span> in central midfield. Microscopic possibility that Gerrard pushes further forward in attack, but at this point I'm prone to guess that <span>Jonjo Shelvey</span> plays that part if needed (even if <i>Being: Liverpool</i> promised differently). <span>Jordan Henderson</span> will have some part to play, whether it's mop-up duty or with a view to changing the match in a manner similar to what he's managed over the past few weeks.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Shelvey joining <span>Raheem Sterling</span> and <span>Luis Suarez</span> might be a stretch, but Oussama Assaidi's might not even make the squad, <span>Joe Cole</span> has been improved but still not convincing, and Suso's faded from his role in the eleven to barely featuring as a substitute outside of cup competition. Downing's still a possibility but seems more likely to start at fullback if he's going to play, and all things considered, it wouldn't be terrible to see what Shelvey could offer.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The 3:00PM GMT/10:00AM EST kickoff means no viewing options in the UK, but stateside there'll be live coverage on FuelTV for those with providers that carry it. We'll have the open thread up for the overnight and the matchday post early on in the day, and if any other viewing options open up in the meantime we'll be sure to include those as well. Team sheets run an hour before kickoff and will be posted once someone's already beat me to it in the comments, and outside of that we hope you'll all be around to join us.</p>
https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/2012/12/14/3765424/match-preview-liverpool-v-aston-villa-premier-league-12-15-12-Ed-