[Liverweb] Aston Villa Match Report

Liverweb Match Report

Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 1

Liverpool : Reina, Kromkamp, Carragher, Hyypia, Traore, Gerrard(C), Alonso,
Cisse, Riise, Crouch, Morientes

Subs : Fowler for Crouch (61), Sissoko for Cisse (64), Warnock for Riise (73)

Subs Unused : Dudek, Agger

Att : 44,479

Ref : Mark Halsey

The Reds won their final home game of the season at Anfield with a
comprehensive score in the end. The win against a woeful Villa side saw the
Reds make hard work of things at times and Villa even equalised early in
the second half.

A very bright but chilly afternoon setting at Anfield for the final home
game of the season saw the Reds defend the Kop end in the first half. Villa
got the game underway in their yellow change shirts but found themselves
behind after just four minutes. The Reds had a patient build up before
Alonso slid the ball through to Morientes. He turned his man inside out and
then slotted home past Sorensen. Was this going to be the big win we needed
to really pressurise United in second.

Sadly the Reds didn't build on the early goal even though Vila heads went
down. The Reds had Cisse on the right wing but all too often Cisse seemed
to be stuck to Crouch and Morientes which left acres of space on the right.
Cisse having played so well in midweek should have been looking to build on
his position in the side but was largely ineffectual throughout.

First half action was just quite pitiful to be fair with he Reds rarely
troubling the centre backs, never mind the keeper. It really was an end of
season, dragged down to the opposition level game. Villa indeed nearly
equalised and really should have on thirty four minutes. Milner and Traore
challenged for a ball in the Villa half which Milner raced away with.
Carragher then stormed up to win the ball on halfway only for Milner to
push it past him. It was four against two with Gerrard racing back to help.
Milner crossed the ball to the back post but with the flag having gone up
Barry headed down and then up and over the bar. This really should have
woken the Reds up - it certainly woke a few fans up at least.

At half time the triumphant Reds Youth Cup winning side was paraded around
the centre circle with their trophy. The youth side have done excellently
this season so it was great that they got their moment in front of the
Anfield crowd.

Aston Villa brought on Juan Pablo Angel for Baros in the second half and it
certainly brightened them up. Villa seemed to have realised that we weren't
playing very well at half time and had a go at us. The Reds dithered around
at the start of the second half and I must admit to losing my rag a few
times at this point. The Reds were simply failing to clear the danger and
one Reina Clearance that hit Angel so nearly went in the Reds net.

At the other end Cisse used his pace to beat Mellberg to the ball and
crossed for Crouch but his shot went just wide of the goal. Villa though
continued to have a go at the Reds. Morientes forced Sorensen in to a great
low save on fifty four minutes with a volley from the edge of the area.

On fifty eight minutes Villa carved the Reds open and equalised. A ball to
Angel was flicked out wide and the cross in to the box went straight
through everyone to the back post where Gareth Barry slotted home
unchallenged. The day was getting worse!

This is when you simply need your top stars to up the pace and captain
Steven Gerrard grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. On the hour mark
he slotted home an Alonso corner ball to get the lead back for the Reds.
Surely now we could build on it.

Robbie Fowler came on to replace Crouch up front and then Sissoko replaced
Cisse. On sixty six minutes came a great move which saw the final goal -
and what a goal it was. Morientes teed up Gerrard who took one touch before
unleashing a pearler past Sorensen. Goals don't come better than this one.
In the day when the talk is about balls the move in the air this just
arrowed to the top corner.

The Reds were now well in the driving seat and it was result over. Villa
fans suddenly started cheering as they heard Portsmouth scores coming
through. For them it must have been a great day as Albion and Birmingham
both went down. It at least hides them from the fact that their team are so
poor.

As the game went on the Reds were looking to score more but rarely actually
created anything of note. Gerrard went close a couple of times but 3-1 was
a fair reflection on the game. With other results it means the Reds could
feasibly still get second place although it's unlikely. It's progress
though that we can still get that close.

At the end of the game the Reds stayed back to do their walk around the
pitch. This for me has to be one of the best parts of the afternoon and it
was all about Carragher. Not Jamie Carragher but two of his kids who came
out in Liverpool kits and just raced around the pitch. The Kop were
chanting to sign them up and they continued racing around the pitch.

The player did their lap of honour to a huge round of applause and singing.
Rafa Benitez had his name chanted in the main going round. The players also
had songs sang for them but for me it was the sight of the two young
Carragher's on the pitch that was the greatest sight of all.

MotM : Steven Gerrard - when the crunch came the skipper stepped up and put
this game to bed for the Reds to ensure all three points came.

Match Stats

Liverpool - Aston Villa
60% Possession 40%
8 Shots On Target 3
6 Shots Off Target 3
1 Blocked Shots 1
6 Corners 5
8 Fouls 12
2 Offsides 6
0 Yellow Cards 0
0 Red Cards 0

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For every first team result ever log on to the Liverweb season archive at
http://www.liverweb.org.uk/archive.htm
Choose from Each season and see all those pre-season friendlies and
testimonials as well as team photos and league and cup results

Whatever Liverpool FC you need it's all there in Liverweb. If it's not
mail me back and ask me.
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