Liverpool 1 - 3 Aston Villa - Finally Defeated at Anfield on Night of Frustration for Liverpool
A stuttered start became a very disappointing one as Liverpool lost at home for the first time since December 2007 (a run of thirty two matches) to leave them with just three points from their first three games.
With the team now having lost away to Spurs and at home last night to Aston Villa, the same number of games lost as the whole of last season, the pressure will be on Rafa Benitez to lift the team in time for the next game away at Bolton. Benitez will also be hoping the crowd – very quiet and very subdued for nearly the whole ninety minutes last night – will be back on form to help raise his team’s performance, which is clearly needed after this latest defeat.
The game started brightly enough with Yossi Benayoun very nearly giving Liverpool the lead in less than a minute with a looping header that landed just a few yards wide of the Aston Villa goal. Liverpool continued to press and both Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres had chances to give their side the lead – but a mixture of bad luck, profligacy in front of goal and heroics from Aston Villa’s ex-Liverpool keeper Brad Friedel contrived to keep the scores level.
As the half progressed Liverpool grew increasingly stifled and frustrated as Aston Villa’s physical approach and defensive set up made it hard to fashion any chances. This approach was felt most strongly by striker Fernando Torres, the victim of three or four particularly nasty fouls. The attempts to rile Torres were undoubtedly deliberate and seemed to work to a degree as Torres was rattled at the lack of protection afforded him by referee Martin Atkinson.
Aston Villa it was against the run of play that opened the scoring. A needless free kick given away by Lucas was also converted by the young Brazilian - he was very unfortunate to see his header divert Ashley Young’s free kick past ‘keeper Jose Reina.
Villa’s performance had not deserved the lead but the situation was to get much worse for Liverpool. A shot blocked by Martin Skrtel went out for a corner to Aston Villa deep, perhaps too deep, into injury time and a Nicky Shorey header was converted at the near post by Curtis Davies. Pundits at half time would delight at this goal; the chance to bring up zonal marking once again proving far too much to resist.
The second half started as the first, very promisingly for Liverpool. But ultimately for all their possession, real clear cut chances were hard to come by. When they did pull one back it was thanks mainly to a great run from Argentine left back Emiliano Insua. His burst into the area and low cross found Fernando Torres unmarked in the six yard box and he side footed calmly into the roof of the net to bring Liverpool right back into the game. A sense of optimism washed over Anfield but would disappear again just as quickly.
Just three minutes after Torres’ goal, Ashley Young burst forward and was brought down by Captain Steven Gerrard in the area, leaving the referee with no choice but to point to the spot. Young stepped up to calmly finish the match as a contest to make it three one to Villa.
Despite being able to point to twelve shots on and nine shots off target, Liverpool would be hard pressed to point to too many really clear cut chances – something which no doubt Benitez will need to address – and fast. Despite the reaction of the media Liverpool are by no means out of the title race – but they need to arrest this poor start. Quickly.