Review: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2

'POOL EASE PAST FLAT VILLA

Yesterday's game against Villa was another solid away performance. 2 goals and a clean sheet, great result!

The 1st 10 mins was all Liverpool, Villa hadn't shown up and this was the theme for the majority of the game.  Villa being restricted to counter attacking chances a with Villa's best chance of the game coming after 9 minutes when a hopeful ball into the box found Heskey unmarked, his header failing to trouble Reina.

With Liverpool's next attack with Downing down the right, we win a corner. Downing himself takes the corner that was nicely drifted into the 8 yard area and with some sloppy Villa defending Craig Bellamy found himself with the ball with a quick and simple tap in Liverpool were 1-0 up.

Bellamy makes it 1-0!

Only 4 mins had past when a dominate 'Pool went 2 up. Creative play down the left saw Liverpool win another corner. Goal scorer Bellamy turned provider as he drilled in the corner into the 6 yard box, meeting Skrtel's head after he made a great cross the box run and he flicked it past the Villa keeper. 2-0!

Skrtel rises unmarked to head past the Villa keeper. 2-0!

We were good value for our 2-0 lead simply out playing Villa in every aspect. Restricting the home team to sloppy passing and aimless counter attacks. It seemed like without their key players Abgonlahor and Bent they weren't much of a team. 

The game really went flat after about 30mins, as we dominated. Maybe if the Villa fans got behind their team instead of booing Downing all game they might have got a response from them.

In the second half Liverpool started much as they did against QPR creating a chance just a minute in with an unmarked Agger missing his header.  The bright start to the second half continued when Suarez cleverly opened up the villa defense only to hit the frame of the goal.

Liverpool continued to dominate the game, keeping the ball well and constantly forcing Villa into mistakes. Suarez almost made it 3  with another clever piece of play found his shot hitting the bar again. Unlucky! as i though although Suarez had a quiet game by his standards his endeavour and skillfulness deserved a goal.

Liverpool choked the life out of the game and the last 20 minutes was played at a training park pace. With the game won Suarez was replaced by Carrol, Shelvey with Carragher and Bellamy came off for Kuyt.

Shelvey's first appearance from the start was solid, although not really tested by the villa midfield he had a good game.

Liverpool celebrate the second goal in a dominant away performance

Overall, we were clearly the better team, and the score line reflects this. Another 3 points away from home is vital in the Christmas period. Note worthy performances came from Adam as the holding midfielder, he didn't light up the park with awe inspiring play but you could tell he was given a job and did it well.  Skrtel was fantastic again at the back with Agger another great game by them even if they were hardly tested it's games like this that test your patience and concentration.

FTK MoM: Craig Bellamy

Craig was outstanding today. 1 goal and 1 assist really cemented how well he played. Lively, creative and clinical he was involved in everything good about our attacking play. Craig was our best player today and clearly deserves FTK's man of the match award.





pics: liverpoolfc.tv