At least this fixture is over and we can move on now...

I'm sure there will be many Villa fans left bemused at what is apparently our record signing's omission from the starting line up.  In fairness, it isn't unusual not to throw such a recent signing into the first available team sheet.  And after Barrygate this summer, I don't think this game was the one to do it either.  So on Milner starting this game on the bench I'm with MON, or I can at least get my head around it.  No problem.

And I'm also pleased to see MON looking to actually use his bench today.  Personally, I also would have looked to bring our newest acquisition into the fray around the hour mark.  So up to this point I'm with MON, but that's where it ends.

So what would I have done at that point??  Well, for me Gabby was looking pretty toothless.  He often lacks the smarts required to exploit the opposition back line and if the rest of the team aren't offering him plenty of balls over the top to chase he isn't bringing much to the party.  That's how I saw things after an hour - a midfield quagmire leaving Gabby anonymous.

So I would have done the unthinkable; bring off Gabby for Milner and play 5 across the middle to combat Liverpool's midfield.  Milner and Ashley Young could play out wide exploiting the scouser's infamous lack of width and joining up with big John in a 4-3-3 in attack.  Barry and NRC could play holding roles in the middle - NRC playing in his natural position... OMG!!!  Petrov could play a creative role also as a third foil for Carew up front.  Guess what??  That also leaves our new full-backs on the pitch playing as full-backs.  Everyone's a winner.

MON's second substitution was more of the same.  Off came Shorey for Gardner.  That left no less than 4 players playing outside of their preferred positions!!  NRC at right back, Barry at left back, Ashley Young on the right and Milner on the left.  All quite capable of doing a job in those positions when required, but I wouldn't do that by design.

So I'll stick with Gardner being my choice of replacement, but it wouldn't have been for Shorey.  For me it's simply a case of assessing which of my central 3 weren't adapting to the current formation and I wouldn't care less which one.  NRC, Barry or Petrov, one of them is making way for Gardner.  In all likelihood it would have been Stan.  Again, we're keeping players roughly where they're best employed on the pitch.  Doesn't seem like rocket science to me.

So that's basically it, we weren't all that bad today, but we weren't great either.  Liverpool were very beatable, but more than likely it would have to come from a set play.  I felt we wasted some of those opportunities today, Laursen in particular didn't project any real menace in the box.  

On the subject of Laursen; I don't think he was up to his usual standard and it was his odd diving header, half clearance that left a big hole for Keane to run on to the inevitable knock back.  I'm not sure where Curtis was, but Laursen should have had an idea that throwing himself to the ground wasn't the right move.  NRC's run back to tackle was impressive, but I think we can consider his timing just good enough not to give away a penalty.  Replays don't show much contact with the Irishman, but he got nothing on the ball at all.  Other refs may have given it and Coker an early bath and suspension to boot as reward for being the "last man".  Yup, Laursen putting himself out the game when Davies wasn't there to cover left the prospect of NRC and Shorey chasing down Keane pincer style - if that isn't asking for trouble, I don't know what is!!

So I'm left feeling underwhelmed somewhat.  I've given the lads some slack in my own mind for the last two lackluster performances on the basis that they must really, really be up for this game after everything that's happened this summer.  I fully expected them to come out today and play in such a way that even if they didn't win, they'd send the Fat Spanish Waiter back up the M6 wishing he'd never messed with us.  We didn't though.  I'm reasonably happy with a point against Liverpool anywhere, but I'd like them to feel very fortunate to get it at Villa Park and today I doubt that's the case.