Kick off 15:00
Stats Below provided by the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index
– Liverpool came out 3-2 winners in their last game against West Ham, with Glen Johnson and Joe Cole both delighted to get on the score sheet while Jordan Henderson followed up a goal in the Europa League by forcing James Collins into an own goal for the winner.
– Joe Allen was one of four players to break the 100 mile mark last weekend, taking his total to 101.33 miles in the Premier League this season, the third highest in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
– Glen Johnson’s goal means that he has now passed on the tag as the player to have had more shots at goal without scoring to his team mate Jonjo Shelvey. Shelvey has had 20 efforts at goal with 60% on target this season.
– Steven Gerrard showed he still knows how to run a game against West Ham and his work rate was testament to that. He ran for 6.61 miles against the Hammer, a squad high on the day.
– Youngster Raheem Sterling may still be finding his feet in the professional game, but his form so far this season indicates he is well on his way to establishing himself as one of the most threatening players in the Premier League. According to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the 18 year old has already notched up 22 dribbles and 29 crosses, a great statement as to his self-belief.
– Luis Suarez has been in electric form this season but could really use some help from his team mates when it comes to providing a consistent threat on goal. His 41 on target attempts on goal is almost double that of his nearest colleague, Steven Gerrard, with 22.
– Aston Villa are just two points above the relegation zone after a 0-0 draw with Stoke in their last game.
– Most of Villa’s chances fell to Christian Benteke how the striker was unable to convert any of them into what would have been a winner for Villa.
– Benteke has been rightly garnering a lot of attention though for his performances this season and it’s easy to see why when one considers he solid accuracy in front of goal. He’s joint third on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index with 31, with only 12 wayward shots not finding their way towards goal.
– Ashley Westwood is another Villa player tipped for big things, and the 22 year old’s defensive play has been developing nicely with an excellent 88% success rate from his 16 challenges this season.
– Having Matthew Lowton come through alongside him must also be of great help, with young defender also chipping in with an excellent 39 successful tackles, giving him a strong success rate of 85%.
– Ron Vlaar continues to impress at the back for Villa this season. The Dutch defender has proved himself crucial to Villa’s efforts having compiled a 74% successful tackle rate, 33 clearances and 50 interceptions.
Just read BRs comments about 2nd . Fair play to you lad and if we can close that gap , tall order I know but if we can . Who knows ? That’s how Shanks thought and got his players thinking that way too . So as i said fair play to BR get the players believing , and anyone whose laughing let them laugh , but lets just aim high , who would’ve thought we could win our FIFTH European Cup in 05 but we did . Make the players believe and make yourself a legend
After such a positive statement from BR disappointed to see him include Lucas in the team Cole , Suso , Henderson give you so much more of a goal threat and rather than allowing Gerrard to get forward it just means Stevie has to go deeper to get the ball and start moves , rather than watch the ball being knocked ten yards to the nearest player to him or back to the player who give it to him . Most passes in a game maybe decent passes threatening passes not many , if any . If we are to move forward he has got to go