Under lördagen har Liverpool en chans att vända den dystra hemmatrenden, man har samtidigt chans att ta en revansch för en av säsongens märkligaste förluster. Det är Aston Villa som kommer till Anfield, laget som vann med 7-2 i motsvarande möte tidigare under säsongen.

Guy Poxon(@GuyPoxon) är skribent för @VillaLamp och berättar här om hur säsongen varit.

1. We are going into the final months of the season, what are your thoughts on Villas season so far?
Guy: It’s been a good season overall. If you spoke to most villa fans before the season and said we’d be 9th, 5 points off the top six with a game in hand as we go into the final 9 games, most would have not believed you. However, given how well we started the season it’s fair to say the last 10 games have been disappointing. If we find some form and can finish the season strongly, then it will be considered one of our better performances over 38 games in the modern Premier League erra. However, if we fall away deep into midtable then it might be understandably disappointing for fans. Either way, we’ve all enjoyed this season and Dean Smith & the coaching staff have done an excellent job.

2. You had some problems with covid-19 in the squad the last time We mer, how has that affected on your season?
Guy: Our inability to field any first team players, and or some of our best under-23s, against Liverpool in the cup marked an unfortunate turning point in the season. We never really recovered from that forced Covid-19 break. Performances took a dip and I can’t help but think it was the reason we fell away a bit in the new year. I genuinely think we would be a couple of places higher in the league if we hadn’t have lost that momentum, and we would have likely beaten Newcastle, Sheffield, Brighton and Burnley – all of whom did a bit of a job on Villa, who couldn’t get out of second gear after the Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

3. There Will be a lot of rumours about Jack Grealish this summer, do you think he Will stay?
Guy: There have been rumours about Jack every summer for the last 4 or 5 seasons! I think this summer is a similar story. If the right club – potentially a Liverpool, Man City, or perhaps a European Champions League giant – comes in with an eye-watering offer, then we may see him choose a new challenge (with the blessing of the Villa fans for all he has done). However, he may also stay. He’s just signed a new long term contract and by all accounts he loves the regular football & platform he gets at Villa – his boyhood club. That regular football is pretty crucial to him being in the England squad. Plus, our owners have made it clear that they will be investing heavily again in the summer – so let’s wait and see.

4. What do you think Villa needs to do to compete even higher up in the table next season?
Guy: We have a decent first 11 with everyone fit. But to get to the next level we do need some changes and options: Another top striker to compete with Watkins A very high quality winger – we may see Jack move into a number 10 role next season A backup leftback – possibly a very highly rated youngster to play understudy to the much-improved Matt Targett A similar understudy for our rightback, or a chance in the team for Freddie Guilbert (who’s doing well on his loan in France) Another midfielder and one with high quality. Probably someone with some more aerial presence who can add combative physicality to the spot where Douglas Luis has played. We may see Sanson, Luis, or McGinn played in a more advanced role next season as they all have merits going forward. McGinn, for example, could be a prolific attacking midfielder upfront with Grealish, Traore, Watkins and a new attacker.

5. Part from Grealish, which players has impressed you the most at Villa this season?
Guy: There are quite a few, such is the turnaround from last year! Emi Martinez has been nothing short of a revelation in goal. I think he’s statistically one of the league’s best keepers and he has probably won Villa an extra 10 points this season – games against Wolves, Southampton and Sheffield United come to mind. Ollie Watkins has taken to the premier league well. He is clinical and will finish the league well into double figures – no mean feat for a young striker, first season in the top flight. It’s his all-round game that is most impressive, though. Matty Cash has been a 7+/10 most weeks in his first season in the top flight at rightback. He’s a big reason why the defense has improved. Ezri Konsa has developed into a top centreback, and he’s still very young. He has grown in confidence and his defensive awareness as well as his physical attributes make him a very promising defender for England. Lastly, an honourable mention to Bertrand Traore. Outside of Grealish, he is our only out-and-out flair player. He’s provided some moments of pure class this season and I think he has room to improve as well – just look at his assist against Fulham last week. The criticism is that he is quite inconsistent. Nevertheless, he’s a big goal threat.

6. We have soon played a season without people in the stands, how Will you remember this season?
Guy: This has been a difficult, long, winter in isolation. Against a backdrop of a tragic pandemic, Aston Villa have provided fans with some release and escape from a dreadful global situation. For that, I’m grateful for the memories…. Particularly a specific memory against the current champions – you may remember a 7-2 at Villa Park!? Looking forward to an action-packed game at Anfield! Hoping you don’t get revenge…