Tom Vickers, editor of astonvilla-mad.co.uk

Aug 29 2008 Liverpool Daily Post

What are your expectations for the season?

Probably to consolidate on what we did last season really, which was a good top six finish. Obviously we’d like to have a good run in Europe, but we don’t expect any miracles in the UEFA Cup.

Who is your star player?

Ashley Young was absolutely fantastic last season and is getting even better, but the main player for us at the moment is Martin Laursen, who’s been given the captaincy and has been brilliant.

How do Villa fans see the whole Gareth Barry transfer saga?

This match this weekend almost has the feeling of a grudge match. Obviously we haven’t got Birmingham City any more and with Liverpool we feel as though we’re getting closer and closer to them all the time.

Which Villa players would you like to see leave?

Stiliyan Petrov played fantastically on the opening day of the season, which is completely out of character for him. Last season there was just times when he would just disappear. But last season we also had Scott Carson and thank God we got rid of him.

Any Liverpool players you’d like to sign?

Obviously we’d love to sign Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher and Fernando Torres, but I’m not sure whether they’re quite in our league.

Realistically, although we don’t really like him because he’s an ex-Blue, Jermaine Pennant, because we need a right-winger.

When he gets it right on the pitch he is a really good player.

You’ve got an American owner at Villa – do you look at what’s happening at Liverpool with a smile?

I think Villa fans weren’t too concerned about it until the Barry saga emerged, but I think most Villa fans do have a little smile. At Villa we’ve seen a complete antithesis where we’ve got an American owner who is prepared to back the manager as much as he can and hasn’t got involved in transfer dealings at all.

How do you see Sunday’s game panning out?

I think it’s going to be a tough one for Villa.

Traditionally, Liverpool come to Villa Park and they go away with a scrappy victory.

But this time around if Young plays his best and Barry has got his mind on it, then we’ve got a really good chance of finally beating Liverpool at home.