Dull Draw At Villa Park

Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0
AR Man of the Match: Mascherano

A line-up recalling Mascherano and Lucas into the team, Steven Gerrard is out injured and it's interesting to see how Liverpool handled without their captain. Gareth Barry is in the Villa team, wondering why he's not wearing the red jersey after so much transfer saga during the summer. Well, I'm glad to see that he's not.

Rafa fielded a strange line-up in my opinion. With Torres alone up front, putting Robbie Keane on the left hand side of the field. Looking at that, it's very hard for the visitors to get any goals. With Keane and Kuyt's natural position of a striker, I can understand that they can't produce any type of magic or crosses of a pure winger.

Somehow, Liverpool was defensive with 3 defensive holding midfielders, Mascherano, Alonso and Lucas. I felt slightly disappointed by the outlook of the team and do think it's rather negative at Villa Park.

Liverpool didn't create much but did have plenty of possession. On several times during the match, I felt that Rafa seems to be playing safe and just wishes to get a point. Torres went injured and NGog, the new French striker came in. He was decent and had half chances here and there. Robbie Keane was then pushed behind the striker and hence, Lucas was playing on the left wing.

Goodness, it's really hard to understand how can Lucas play on the left. Come on Rafa, how do we score and challenge for the title if you continue to play such systems? Substitutions made me scratched my head too. Fabio Aurelio coming in as a left winger, replacing Dirk Kuyt. Benayoun coming in for Robbie Keane. Didn't you realise, he's replacing potential goal-scorers of the team out? When these changes were made, I knew we couldn't get the 3 points for the day. There's no much support and match winners left on the pitch.

With Chelsea dropping points with Tottenham at home, it's a good opportunity to get above them and be top of the table. Once again, Liverpool has never be able to do it, dropping points alongs with them.

The league is a long journey, still, in such a competitive league, we have to capitalise on every chance to close up or even extend leads in any parts of the season. Rafa, I've the utmost faith in you and I still believe you can be the one delivering the 19th title for us.

Up next, Manchester United.

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