Welcome dear listener to the 20th episode of the 7th season of First State Kopites. I’m Paul and today I am joined by Sean and Daz. The Reds get back to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. They end the weekend back in the top 4. And in the mean time we passed on the Carabao Cup for this season.

Part One  - A performance from the title winning season:

• The midfield looked like the one we had last year - and no one is sure what our #9 does in this system. Robertson - at times didn’t always look comfortable last year, was lively.

• The spacing, the determination

• No big chances for Villa, but only 1.19 xG for us. 

• Confidence - Ekitike goal was a great let off, team and crowd responded well to it being disallowed, we didn’t let that stop us - ‘this crowd will go quiet’ says Stephen Warnock (still pissed off over Rafa’s snub).

• Salah’s finish was so clinical - topped off a great performance.

• A third goal would have felt right - created a lot of threat, but didn’t quite create the great chance in the second half.

• Crowd was great - good reaction to the online nonsense

• Villa widely tactics mocked for not playing enough long balls:

• They should have been a champions league team - lot harder for them to play shit ball than a lower tier team (or Arsenal)

• Not sure they have the personnel. A team whose recruitment isn’t ideally suited to long high balls?

• Forensics corner - ‘Shakes him very gently by the throat’ Onana.. Tierney…

Part Two - quick preview of Real Madrid and Man City away:

• Both have won more games than they’ve lost. 

• Real Madrid:

• Where are we after Villa? Who will play?

• Virg’s comments/Trent reception

• Man City - will Pep Ljinders overthink it?

We’ll be back with a review of the Real Madrid and then the City game. Thanks to Daz and Sean for joining me, Paul. And most of all, thank you dear listener for joining us.

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