Villa fans set for bitter battle

Last updated : 30 August 2008 By Tom Vickers
There are so many negative points that could and would suffocate a preview of Villa's bitter Sunday showdown with Liverpool.
We could mention the now infamous Gareth Barry saga.
We could mention the boo boys, who are inevitably clamouring for the chance to get on the back of Rafa Benitez.
And, we could even pinpoint the fact that Villa are without a win at home against Liverpool for ten years, yes TEN years.
But, here at Villa-MAD we like to accentuate the positives.
The atmosphere at Villa Park on Sunday is all set to reach fever pitch with many Villa forums posing the question: What is more important, facing Second City rivals Birmingham City or taking on Gareth Barry loving Benitez and his men?
Ever since Villa and Blues co-existed in 1875 (Villa were founded a year earlier), the rivalry has been so intense, that the mere suggestion any other fixture could be more important would be preposterous.
In fact, you would probably have been laughed out of any Villa pub for your naive way of thinking.
However, after the fixture list was announced and the Gareth Barry saga was lived out like an episode of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, that suggestion became more and more a case of reality.

Benchmark

Villa versus Liverpool has taken on a whole new perspective.
For weeks, the tensions between fans of the pinnacle club in the Second City and fans of the top club in the Capital of Culture have been simmering.
Now, it's time to stop the talking and start the real battle on the pitch.
Martin O'Neill, fresh from completing his eighth summer signing in the shape of James Milner, will be expecting victory.
Obviously any side sporting Robbie Keane and Fernando Torres must be feared but this game is a benchmark for Villa.
It shows just how far we have come under O'Neill and it shows just how close we are to breaching the apparently impenetrable Big Four.
Animosity between fans and the whole Barry issue must be put aside come four o'clock on Sunday.
This game is about Villa. And after all they do say no player is bigger than the club.