Aston Villa vs. Liverpool: Winners and Losers from Premier League Game
Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Villa Park in the Premier League on Saturday, gaining a measure of revenge for the Anfield defeat earlier in the season and pushing themselves another step closer to the top four in the process.
Both teams missed a number of good chances to score, but Fabio Borini scored the opener and Rickie Lambert finished things off in the second half.
Here are all our winners and losers from the match.
Winner: Fabio Borini
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He might be maligned for his vision and intelligence in the game at times, but Fabio Borini deserved another start for his willingness and endeavour last time around—and he produced more of the same at Villa Park.
Crucially, he added to that a presence in the six-yard box, just missing once or twice but also flying in to score a well-timed finish in the opening 20 minutes or so, giving his team a deserved lead.
Borini should have had at least one assist to his name as he failed to spot good runs by team-mates, but the Italian came up with a goal his team required to make all the good approach play worthwhile.
Is he good enough to start with everybody available? No. But he puts in a lot of running off the ball, dragging opposition defenders out of position, and this time, he found the net. He adds to the Liverpool attack, even if he's not perfect.
A nod to sub Rickie Lambert, too, who has struggled for scoring form but sealed the match with his strike.
Loser: Nathan Baker
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The Aston Villa centre-back made a couple of good challenges, especially inside his own penalty box when chances were falling Liverpool's way in the first half, but by and large, Nathan Baker had a tough time of things on Saturday.
Movement from Borini along the defensive line, coupled with darts infield from the channels by Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, meant the gaps in the Aston Villa defensive line were continually exploited.
At the other end, Baker missed two of the three best chances Villa fashioned, heading over—with Simon Mignolet nowhere near a corner and missing the ball entirely—unmarked and five yards out.
Winner: Carlos Sanchez
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Villa didn't have too much possession or control of the game through the centre of the park, but Carlos Sanchez again showed he had plenty to offer as a destroyer as he picked off Philippe Coutinho a few times, won second balls in the midfield and got play moving in the right direction.
He's the robust, yet technically impressive, kind of player that Villa need to rely on and build around if they are to get out of the poor league run they are on.
He's also a bit of a winner for committing the number of fouls he did and somehow escaping getting booked.
Loser: Paul Lambert
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Paul Lambert heard dissenting voices from the crowd against him at the end of the match and will really have to start finding answers about his side's woeful lack of ability in front of goal.
It's no longer acceptable to blame the absence or lack of fitness of Christian Benteke—he's been back for some time now, and Villa have still only managed one goal in their last seven league games.
Two wins in 18 in the league is just not good enough, and the buck has to stop with Lambert to sort it out.
Winner: Can, Skrtel and Sakho
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Liverpool's back three remains in place, and on Saturday, the entire trio contributed to the win and clean sheet.
Mamadou Sakho, left-centre, was immense in the first half, making challenges on the stretch, winning the ball cleanly and dealing with the dual threat of Alan Hutton from deep and Gabby Agbonlahor down the channel.
In the second period, Martin Skrtel was much more involved, called upon to make a number of blocks, slide tackles and big, headed clearances, as Villa went more direct in search of an equaliser.
And throughout, on the ground and in the air, Emre Can dealt superbly well with Benteke, beating him almost every time—and getting a slice of luck on the one occasion he didn't, as the Belgian mis-controlled and Baker missed the ball on the rebound.
Can's ability on the ball and composure in possession, moving out of defence, is also hugely important for the Reds.
