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Match Day

L4L Match Report: LIVERPOOL 1 v 3 Aston Villa

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OVER the last 22 years, Liverpool fans have become well accustomed to phrases which insinuate that our club are heading back to more successful times. The most infuriating and not to mention overly used term is ‘turned the corner’.

If Liverpool have indeed turned the corner on the amount of occasions they are supposed to have done in the contemporary era, then perhaps the club should turn its hands to Formula One.

After snatching a precious away victory against West Ham last Sunday, we had a feeling once more that better days were on the not-so-distant horizon. However, we should have known that every time those feelings enter our state of consciousness, Liverpool churn out a result or performance that reverts us back sharpish to that humbling place: square one.

The team’s 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa was certainly unexpected. The mood around Anfield prior to kick-off suggested a good day was in the offing, but Christian Benteke tore the script to bits and inspired the away side to a shocking result.

It could have been so different if Liverpool hadn’t embarked on another period of wasteful finishing, this time in the opening 20 minutes.

Chances came and went during this period for Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling, Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Allen.

The most infuriating opportunity involved Suarez and Steven Gerrard. Liverpool’s two star turns broke centrally through Villa’s rearguard which left them in a two-on-one situation, where Suarez only had to play a simple five yard pass to Gerrard in order to leave him clean through on goal (a scenario where Gerrard rarely fails), but he dallied, dallied some more, then inexplicably played the pass behind his captain and the move broke down.

A weakness of Suarez’s is that he holds onto the ball too long when in situations such as these, he hasn’t perfected the art of choosing the simple option. But it’s perhaps harsh to single out Suarez for any kind of criticism, given the ever-growing amount of responsibility that rests on his shoulders.

The same old story ensued after Liverpool’s period of complete dominance. After one of Villa’s first forays into Liverpool defensive territory, Christian Benteke received the ball 25 yards out, took a touch, then slotted in a side footed shot beyond Pepe Reina at his near post.

A very good goal, but Liverpool’s pressing left a lot to be desired, and unfortunately it wouldn’t be their last defensive calamity.

Villa looked far more solid after their sucker-punch, whilst Liverpool’s period of dynamic movement and incisive football came to a complete standstill.
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Looking increasingly open at the back in their attempts to get back into the game, Liverpool conceded a second on 40 minutes. It came after a fine Villa move, a one-two between Benteke and Andreas Weimann at the edge of the box, then Benteke’s classy back-heel to Weimann – who hadn’t been tracked anywhere near well enough – slotted the ball under Reina from eight yards.

Anfield was stunned into silence.

A second half onslaught was expected, but in fairness, it never came. Liverpool lacked ideas and performed terribly.

They should have been given the opportunity to make it 2-1 however, when on 47 minutes Daniel Agger was wrestled to the ground in the penalty area by Ciaran Clark, but Neil Swarbrick waved away vociferous protests. Liverpool’s agonising wait for a penalty this season continues.

Things then became a touch embarrassing on 51 minutes. Joe Allen’s poor pass (it seems that Allen’s renaissance, summed up by his performance against Udinese, is short-lived) gave Benteke the chance to intercept, but the big Belgian should never have been allowed to stroll past Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger, before passing the ball into the net, without some sort of challenge. Another great goal from him, but another case of poor defending.

An Istanbul-style comeback never looked likely because Liverpool were alarmingly bereft of creativity, not helped by Rodgers’ strange reluctance to hand Suso a run-out. Meanwhile, Villa looked solid.

A consolation goal was all that Liverpool could muster. It came on 87 minutes, when Gerrard diverted Glen Johnson’s shot beyond Brad Guzan.

A very unexpected and thus very disappointing loss for Liverpool. It seems that any mention of a revival is met with a bad performance and result. Maybe we shouldn’t get too excited in future, but it’s difficult to keep that precious human emotion in check: hope.

Searching for positives from the game is difficult, but the one good thing that could come from today is that it may prove to be some sort of reality check. Perhaps it’s far too premature to expect a sustained assault on fourth place.

That will only arrive when Liverpool improve their attacking options, therefore, the earliest it may come is following the January transfer window, but that is assuming Liverpool will buy well.

Their recent history of striker signings in January, players like Andy Carroll and Fernando Morientes (Luis Suarez was a massive exception of course), suggest that we shouldn’t get our hopes up on that either.

A move for Darren Bent has been mooted, but Liverpool would be better served looking at the player who has replaced him in Villa’s starting line-up, based on today’s performance, 22-year-old Christian Benteke is destined for the top.

L4L Man of the Match: Stewart Downing. Yes, you’ve read that correctly. Stewart Downing was Liverpool’s man of the match. He played some superb cross-field passes and whipped in several dangerous crosses. He was playing left-back today and it is fitting that a defender is singled out and not one of Liverpool’s attacking players.

Follow me on Twitter: @antonyjlfc
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18 comments

  • TaintlessRed says:

    Agree that Downing was MoM. Sterling looks tired and needs a break, I don’t understand why Assaidi isn’t even in the squad! (surely deserves a chance after Europa League performances). Allen has to be dropped – is costing us points defensively (didn’t track for 2nd goal, pass for 3rd), and offensively (offers little in final third). Hopefully Sahin recovers and is played for a change.

    • steve O says:

      Assaidi is not premier quality – even Rodgers figured that out . every time he gets the ball , runs fast , looks tricky , then …… nothing . no decent cross , no decent shot or pass , not even once in his 10 apps , honestly he was only 3m but still 3m wasted

  • steve O says:

    We will NEVER be a decent team with that weakling Joe Allen in the team , he is unbelievably useless .

  • treaz says:

    in form striking partnership vs average centre backs = villa 3 – l’pool 1.

    • simon says:

      Rubbish ! Our defenders are excellent – bad team selection again , Joe Allen , and Joe Cole ,thats why we were so poor

  • olamide says:

    I don’t know why allen start’s every match.sterling is tired.play suso in midfield

    • ozred says:

      Yep time for Allen to sit on the bench… Sterling has looked tired for several weeks. Would be a good time to bring him on from the bench.

      Problem we’ve got is our next option is Suso… Yep, good young kid but that’s all he is at the moment. Our squad is so thin and desperately lacking quality after the player exists and new purchases of the last 2 years.

      Joe Allen $15 WTF…

  • Forrester says:

    Allen doesnt just need to be dropped – he needs to be sold , we need men in midfield not little girls who wont tackle

  • Brendan says:

    Rodgers said he would have paid whatever it would have cost to bring Allen to Anfield.

    • ozred says:

      Hell that could have got ugly…

      I’m reserving judgment on Rogers until he’s had a good crack at it but the Allen signing looks worse every week.

      Impossible to see any justification in $15m for this kid at the moment. I hope i’m proven wrong but gee wiz, the bloke is in a downward spiral.

  • Matt says:

    If you pay $15m for a midfielder you expect him to score goals and be far more offensive and creative up front. Given his history at Swansea he ain’t that type of player, if BR had to pay more for him I would’ve pulled my hair out by now. I think that’s the first time I’ve seen Allen take a shot at goal since he has arrived. BR please give someone else a chance.

  • Jamie says:

    even if Allen was on top form , i would still say NO to him , this guy is too weak , too negative and useless going forward . A championship player if ever i saw one – and the MOST disgraceful thing about it > it seems he is undropable

  • redrum says:

    He is so out of his depth , it really is actually embarrassing to see him in Liverpools midfield . Is there a weaker player in the whole PL ?

  • westy says:

    How could boss so much of the game and still lose 3 nil? Well there are several key points to note.

    1. Defensive midfielders nto protecting the back like they sued to – Lucas not up to speed yet..use Sahin more And why Rogers didn’t go 3 at the back using Coates to counter Benteke (after all he was the only threat AV had!)

    2. Tired players – yep I’ll agree with that Sterling ineffective, Allen too many mistakes. Play Sahin more in his prefered position.

    3. Players playing out of position – Sterling right and Shelvery left? Why? Sterling better on left and Shelvey is a central midfielder.

    4. Too slow a build up lead to a compressed area on the 18 yard line. If you’re going to play tiki taka it needs to be quick – not desperately slow as it was on Saturday. Also you need a bit more creativity… Suso in central midfield for example.

  • fotheringham says:

    simply this – Joe Allen is the root of ALL our problems this season . Its like we are playing with 10 men every week . He gives no cover , too easily bullied by opponents every week , and attacking wise he offers zilch . Waste of money , waste of space

  • bjowolabi says:

    Problem is not wit allen, problem is wit d stupid rodgers himself. Not fit to be a liverpool manager.

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