Valiant Villa Subdue Lifeless Liverpool

Anfield has rarely been a place of good fortune for Aston Villa, so ahead of the Premier League tie on Monday; I was in a mood dominated by hope more than belief that Villa could get a result.

A draw would have sufficed, especially after a poor opening day performance against Wigan and defeat against the powerhouse of European football Rapid Vienna, but an unexpected 3-1 win is rarer than an energetic and assured away performance in which we subdue the home side into a comprehensive defeat.

Many Liverpool fans will point to the absence of Xabi Alonso as a reason, or even an excuse for their poor performance, but his replacement in midfield Lucas, is a player that poses a great threat when he pops up in the box and he showed this by latching onto a hopeful free-kick and expertly heading the ball inside Pepe Reina’s near post in the 34th minute to give Villa the lead.

From then on Liverpool never really found their stride. Fernando Torres was harried and bullied off the ball and Liverpool’s driving force Steven Gerrard seemed to miss a gear and was largely ineffectual, against the tireless Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell.

It didn’t all go Villa’s way though, as they were intent early on in the game to needlessly play around with ball at the back, seemingly unsure of the best method of attack, resulting in Liverpool missing a handful of gifted opportunities and Chuckle brother like panic defending from the claret and blue.

Liverpool could find no response to the goal though and in first half stoppage time, Sidwell was allowed to saunter towards goal and cannon a shot off Martin Skrtel for a corner. Heaping further pain and misery on the supposed title contenders, Carragher and Torres conspired to get in each others way and Curtis Davies headed in from six yards out.

Expecting a repost from their hosts after the break, Villa were content to sit back and utilise their pace on the break when ever possible and largely dealt with Liverpool’s unimaginative hoofs towards the box, until the 72 minute, when Torres found the goal after a deflected shot fell at his feet and gifted him an empty net.

Believing this to be the kick up the arse that Liverpool’s fans were waiting for, I was expecting an onslaught, but the Steven Gerrard show never arrived and in fact he contributed towards Villa sealing an impressive and unlikely win.

James Milner, who worked tirelessly all game, won the ball back deep on the right hand side and carried it across the pitch, allowing Reo-Coker to burst into box, ahead of Gerrard who slid in hopefully more than commandingly to concede what Alan Hansen would describe as a ‘stone-wall penalty’.

After squandering early chances, Liverpool rarely threatened in the second half, but Dirk Kuyt’s late header against the post was their best chance to salvage something from the game.

So yes, by now I’m sure you have gathered that I’m a Villa fan who is clearly delighted with the performance, largely because for the past six months I’ve been watching my team squander all the opportunities that have been laid in front of them. This though is a scoreline that surely speaks for itself and is even more impressive considering the start that we’ve had and Liverpool’s early season expectations as possible title contenders.

Having given Rafa Benitez something to moan about again, the pressure will now be heavily on the Spaniard to deliver, after he raised expectations last season with a second place finish. Fortunately for Martin O’Neill, the anxious air that had been building over Villa Park will have dissipated a little, but could still return on Thursday night, leaving this game as a distant memory, if the UEFA Cup spoils are taken back to Austria.

Posted By Dan Mobbs - Monday August 24, 2009.
Tags: Liverpool, Aston Villa