Premier League - Villa and Liverpool in bore draw

Eurosport - Mon, 01 Sep 08:46:00 2008

Liverpool lost the Premier League's last remaining 100 per cent record after a dull 0-0 draw with Aston Villa at Villa Park.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Premier League Aston Ville-Liverpool Benitez O'Neill - 0

Following Gareth Barry's ultimately unsuccessful transfer bid this summer - which had sparked a war of words between both clubs - the clash had been eagerly anticipated.

But in the end, the game did not live up to the hype and proved to be a damp squib.

Despite a several late Villa assaults on the Liverpool goal, as a spectacle the game largely disappointed as both teams cancelled each other out.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez and his Villa counterpart Martin O'Neill - the chief protagonists in the summer unpleasantries - set the tone for the day, shaking hands prior to kick-off as Barry lined up to face the club he so badly wanted to join just weeks earlier.

But the fireworks never arrived. Indeed, Barry - the focus of attention early on as the home crowd chanted his name - barely touched the ball in the opening exchanges and did little to give his fans much more to shout about.

With action at such a premium, it came as no surprise that the most noteworthy incident of the opening half hour came when Fernando Torres pulled up clutching his hamstring midway through the first half.

Already deprived of Steven Gerrard - the Reds captain sat out the game as he convalesces from a groin operation - the Spaniard's departure diminished Liverpool's already limited attacking options.

The Spain forward immediately took off his headband and signalled to the bench that he could not continue, and even with the international break coming up, he now faces a race to be fit for Liverpool's next outing - against Manchester United on September 13.

Torres was replaced by David Ngog on the half hour mark and it was the young French striker went close to breaking the deadlock as the opening period drew to a close. The summer signing from Paris St Germain was played in on goal by Robbie Keane but his shot whistled over Brad Friedel's crossbar.

The chance was just one of three moments of note during a dire first half of football as Villa, despite being the home side, sat off Liverpool and waited to hit them on the break.

The only problem for fans hoping to see a spectacle at Villa Park was that Liverpool were equally as devoid of attacking ideas, preferring instead to keep possession and play the ball around midfield.

That a decent run down the right wing from Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker was the highlight of the opening half hour spoke volumes.

In fairness, soon after the game picked up slightly, and Villa were unlucky not to take the lead when John Carew tried to apply the finishing touches to a slick passing move. Jose Reina, on great form so far this season, saved the Norwegian's side footer with his legs.

At the other end, Ngog's effort aside, Liveprool's best chance of the opening period fell to Dirk Kuyt on 40 minutes. A poor defensive header by Nicky Shorey reached the Dutchman but he in turn he could only find the side netting.

Liverpool reshuffled after the break and came out in a much more determined mood. Xabi Alonso saw a goalbound effort deflected behind before Robbie Keane squandered a glorious chance to take the lead on 73 minutes.

Keane has yet open his Liverpool account and he is looking increasingly more tentative in front of goal - his hesitation before pulling the trigger when put clean through on goal by Javier Mascherano told its own story. This time, Reo-Coker was able to recover and make a crucial challenge before the Irishman could trouble Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

It was the nearest Liverpool came to scoring, and the visitors finished the game without having registered a single shot on goal.

Villa at least managed to find the target, although they were little more penetrative than their opponents. James Milner, making his debut as a substitute, went close soon after having been introduced, but his shot was pawed out of the air by Reina before Martin Laursen saw a header go wide with the keeper beaten.

Villa could then have nicked all three points in the dying moments, but Jamie Carragher came to Liverpool's rescue, clearing off the line after the ball had taken a nasty deflection off his team-mate Fabio Aurelio.

Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Comment 58 - 77 of 77

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  1. to be frank,benitez should be sacked

    From Bala, on Fri 5 Sep 1:56PM

  2. to be frank,benitez should be sacked

    From Bala, on Fri 5 Sep 1:51PM

  3. Sorry all for the mistake I made on post 38, I had just­ watched the match and was typing in my sleep

    From peterfarrelly, on Mon 1 Sep 8:49PM

  4. chuakc78, i bet your not even from liverpool, in fact­ you probs never been to a game. you mug

    From upthevilla, on Mon 1 Sep 3:20PM

  5. dont b bemused by my comments chinese...if u think u r­ right so be it...may be liverpool shud sign messi next­ window or maybe c.ronaldo or kaka or david villa n then­ get rid of rafa....but the 1st thing to do is chinese u­ have to apply job to replace parry....we all liverpool­ fan wish u all the best to get that job...we will­ suport u 200%....go chinese go go go liverpool 4eva!!!!

    From mustahil, on Mon 1 Sep 2:06PM

  6. nothing to conclude as the results speak for­ itself....villa played with full strength at home still­ lost 2points to liverpool witout gerrard n­ torres....hahahah chinese can i join u play champ­ manager n i take villa team kekekekekekekke lol

    From mustahil, on Mon 1 Sep 1:57PM

  7. chuakc78, so by your definition, since villa are @#$%­ and played just as well as liverpool... what­ conclusions can we draw from that?...

    From chinesewok, on Mon 1 Sep 12:29PM

  8. hey all visitors in tis webpage....if u think liverpool­ need this n that player,play lke this n that­ tactical...why dont u go to lfc n apply for manager job­ to replace rafa?may be u r good manager in championship­ manager by getting all the best players around the­ world like messi, ronaldo, terry, cech, totti,­ ronaldino, deco, quaresma, vila, albelda, kaka, robinho­ n so on but be realistic coz u got no idea how to­ manage a real football team, training,s tretegy,­ tactical, setpiece,n so on u guys only know complaint­ complaint n complaint...shut up n just play ur champ­ manager n win evrything for ur fantasyliverpool!!!!

    From mustahil, on Mon 1 Sep 11:02AM

  9. if gerrard n torres out liverpool r nothing? hahhah­ that's y we have gerrard n torres in the­ team...villa got all the players but still nothing...if­ they lost 1 or 2 players then they will be like @#$%...

    From mustahil, on Mon 1 Sep 10:47AM

  10. Seems without gerrard and torres reds are out for­ nothing, benitez you should look on it optimistically

    From Deogratias, on Mon 1 Sep 9:09AM

  11. Curtis Davies summed this game up fantastically in his­ post match commentary
    "This was a match nobody­ wanted to lose"

    Given all the Barry talk over the­ last 6 weeks its a relief to have this match gone and­ out the way.

    In fairness, both sides could be accused­ of some questionable substitutions, but Liverpool­ without Torres and Gerrard just doesn't look even­ slightly threatening.

    I have the feeling that Pool­ placed all their eggs in 1 basket with Keane, Torres­ and Gerrard... and so far if they're all not­ available it doesn't pay off.

    I reitterate my­ thoughts from 2 weeks ago, I could serious see Rafa­ leaving before the end of this season.

    From chinesewok, on Mon 1 Sep 8:35AM

  12. I am sick & tired of Liverpool playing players out­ of position. Babel is supposed to be a striker, Kuyt is­ supposed to be a striker. When are we going to learn.­ Our last manager did the same and we could never win­ anything. When can we get back to playing a fast ,­ passing game like we used to play.

    From Glenn H, on Mon 1 Sep 8:31AM

  13. Keanes inclusion in the team has not been justifiable­ so far.HE better wake up to realities cos the REDs need­ him to deliver and not to waste opportunities.The­ vseason belong to the REDs.LIGHTNER FROM NIGERIA.

    From lytena2003, on Mon 1 Sep 8:13AM

  14. got to say this as a lifelong liverpool fan of 45 years­ the match at villa was a disgrace to lfc everybody is­ right we are going no were and will win nothing,wrong­ subs brought on not one idea on tactics,ngog came on­ and disapeared babel was left on the bench. how can lfc­ let the fans down time and time again

    this­ season again

    From sly fox, on Mon 1 Sep 7:19AM

  15. Kelong................KELOOOOOOOOONG............

    From joey_yaz69, on Mon 1 Sep 6:21AM

  16. it's not surprising result...
    liverpool and villa­ are both bad team...
    arsenal the best

    From michael_mj_17, on Mon 1 Sep 6:19AM

  17. Kelong................

    From joey_yaz69, on Mon 1 Sep 6:19AM

  18. from a good source at villa park john carew was picked­ up by the local police after the match for no apparent­ reason but when searched all they found was jamie­ carragher in his back pocket. also robbie keane was­ last seen in the local brothel, he might even score­ there.

    From upthevilla, on Mon 1 Sep 5:25AM

  19. can anyone tell me when liverpool play good­ ????????????????????/ lucky yes but good no ,and they­ sold crouch ??????????????? what a stupid manager and­ club going nowhere

    From Chris, on Mon 1 Sep 5:18AM

  20. liverpool fans were saying last week how good they were­ ???? joke they been lucky with the two wins and the­ game at villa proves , they are a nothing team , if­ torres is out for a few games who will score ?? the­ same about the super chelsea , not so super against a­ very poor spurs side , so now man u is back in the big­ picture , well they never been out of it but the­ liverpool and chelsea fans were excited about the two­ wins and manu dropping home points well manu been there­ done it and do it again win the title liverpool need a­ new manager and chelsea needs to stop be so arrogant ,­ its great when they drop points and lets hope they win­ nothing , ops do anyone want a chelsea shirt with­ robbinho on it ha ha , what a joke club

    From Chris, on Mon 1 Sep 5:14AM
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