Aston Villa vs. Liverpool: Score, Grades, Reaction from Premier League Game
Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert scored the goals as Liverpool won 2-0 at Aston Villa on Saturday in a Premier League match at Villa Park.
Liverpool were the better side in the opening stages and went ahead through Borini's volleyed finish in the 24th minute. Villa improved after half-time and produced plenty of chances to draw level, but instead Liverpool sealed the points with Lambert's pinpoint strike 11 minutes from time.
With the win, Liverpool moved up to 35 points through 22 matches. After a difficult start to the season, the Reds are trying to remain in the hunt for the top four. Before Saturday, Liverpool were five points behind fourth-placed Manchester United.
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Villa, who have now gone seven league matches without victory, have 22 points through 22 matches. Paul Lambert's side started the day three points above the relegation places, and the upcoming fixture list promises little relief. Up next, Villa host Bournemouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup next weekend before tricky Premier League matches at Arsenal (Feb. 1) and at home to Chelsea (Feb. 7).
Over that stretch, Lambert will have to find a way to get more goals out of his team. Since drawing 1-1 against Manchester United on Dec. 20, Villa have not scored a single goal in the Premier League.
Liverpool, meanwhile, are in the midst of a busy run in league and cup play. Up next for the Reds is the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final, at home to Chelsea on Tuesday. Brendan Rodgers' side then host Bolton in the FA Cup next Saturday before visiting Chelsea for the return leg in the Capital One Cup.
The game's first chance fell to Liverpool in the second minute, Philippe Coutinho volleying wide from a tight angle on the right after latching on to a Jordan Henderson corner. Three minutes later, Aston Villa's Nathan Baker flicked a header wide from an Ashley Westwood free-kick.
In the 17th minute, Christian Benteke directed a tame header straight at Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who saved easily. The visitors then moved straight down the pitch and had the ball in the net moments later, but Alberto Moreno's strike was ruled out for offside.
Liverpool took the lead in the 24th minute as Henderson unlocked Villa's defence with an exquisite final pass. Starting with a throw-in on the right flank, the Reds worked the ball to Henderson just outside the box. After taking a touch, the midfielder curled an inch-perfect cross to Borini at the far post, where the Italian volleyed in past Brad Guzan for a 1-0 lead.
It was nearly 2-0 in the 38th minute, when Raheem Sterling raced free behind Villa's defence and latched onto a headed pass from Lucas Leiva. But with only Guzan to beat, Sterling tried to score with a chip, which Guzan saved comfortably.
Villa closed the half with a spell of pressure. In the 41st minute, Carlos Sanchez tried his luck from distance, forcing Mignolet into an uncomfortable save with a bouncing shot. Two minutes later, Tom Cleverley blasted over the goal from a tight angle on the left.
Still leading 1-0 at half-time, Liverpool came close again in the 50th minute. Martin Skrtel rose highest in the box to head down a corner, powering the ball into the goalmouth for Borini. As he turned to face the goal, Borini was unable to make significant contact, but the ball continued to bounce toward the net. Guzan appeared beaten momentarily, but the American goalkeeper stretched to tip the ball away with the slightest of touches.
Villa responded with a big chance of their own in the 61st minute. Baker headed down into the path of Benteke on the right side of the box. Benteke hit the target with a powerful shot, but Mignolet produced a good save to preserve Liverpool's lead.
In the 67th minute, Baker headed a corner over the bar with Mignolet flailing. Three minutes later, Benteke volleyed wide as Villa turned up the pressure.
At the other end, Lucas had a go from long distance in the 78th minute, curling a shot toward the bottom corner from outside the box. The ball looked destined for the net, but Guzan stretched to save again.
It was only a momentary let-off for Villa, though. In the 79th minute, Lambert doubled Liverpool's lead only moments after entering the match as a substitute. Following a giveaway in Villa's end, Sterling played the ball to Lambert along the edge of the box. With plenty of time to pick his spot, Lambert finished in the bottom corner at the far post to make it 2-0.
The second goal took much of the sting out of the match, and over the final 10 minutes, Liverpool were able to see out their win in relative comfort.
Grades
| Brad Guzan | 6 |
| Alan Hutton | 8 |
| Jores Okore | 6 |
| Nathan Baker | 5 |
| Aly Cissokho | 6 |
| Carlos Sanchez | 6 |
| Ashley Westwood | 6 |
| Fabian Delph | 6 |
| Tom Cleverley | 4 |
| Christian Benteke | 6 |
| Gabriel Agbonlahor | 5 |
| Andreas Weimann (for Cleverley, 59') | 6 |
| Carles Gil (for Westwood, 59') | 7 |
| Simon Mignolet | 7 |
| Emre Can | 7 |
| Martin Skrtel | 6 |
| Mamadou Sakho | 7 |
| Lazar Markovic | 6 |
| Jordan Henderson | 7 |
| Lucas Leiva | 6 |
| Alberto Moreno | 6 |
| Raheem Sterling | 6 |
| Fabio Borini | 7 |
| Philippe Coutinho | 7 |
| Rickie Lambert (for Borini, 71') | 6 |
| Jose Enrique (for Moreno, 71') | 6 |
| Jordon Ibe (for Sterling, 85') | No rating |
Reaction
Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert (via PremierLeague.com):
"The second half I thought we were excellent. I didn't think there was too much in it in the first half.
We lost a poor goal but the second half was relentless pressure from us and their goalkeeper has probably kept them in it with the save from Christian Benteke.
I don't think anyone could fault us for the way we played in the second half. We just have to keep doing what we did today and keep getting the chances and they will go in. The fans were brilliant right from the off. At the end that is just disappointment.
"
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers (via PremierLeague.com):
"It was always going to be a difficult game. Aston Villa are a hard team to try to break down but we were very complete in our performance.
We passed the ball around really well at times and our counter-attack was very good, and we probably should have exploited that more than we did.
Importantly, when we had to defend at important moments of the game we stood up to the challenge and it is another clean sheet.
"
