Sunday March 31, 2013 Day 31 Finished Villa Park

Aston Villa 1 - 2 Liverpool

  • Benteke 31’
  • Henderson 47’
  • Gerrard 60’ (pen.)

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  1. Premier League - Gerrard inspires Liverpool win at Villa Park

    Premier League - Gerrard inspires Liverpool win at Villa Park

    Steven Gerrard scored one goal and prevented another as Liverpool came from behind to complete a 2-1 win at Aston Villa. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Aston Villa
    • Liverpool
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this and every Premier League game from 00:01 on Monday.
    • 90+3' There goes the final whistle! A 2-1 win for Liverpool, who deserved their three points for a strong performance in the second half.
    • 90+1' Benteke has the ball in the net, but is clearly offside. Frustration for the forward.
    • 89' We are into three minutes of added time. A yellow card for Westwood after taking out Henderson.
    • 88' N'Zogbia flicks the ball down the line, but Enrique tracks back to make the clearance.
    • 87' Villa will remain third bottom of the table with this defeat which is not where you want to be at this stage of the season.
    • 86' Delph doing well to block the run of Henderson. Guzan out of his goal to grab the chipped ball forward from Gerrard.
    • 85' Since their 3-1 win at Anfield, Villa have picked up 12 points from 13 Premier Leagu matches. Only Stoke (10) and Norwich (9) have picked up fewer points since mid-December.
    • 84' An N'Zogbia shot is charged down by the black shirts. Hard to see where the Villa equaliser is going to come from here.
    • 83' How costly will that miss prove to be? Liverpool again on the move, but Suarez runs the ball out of play trying to go beyond Vlaar.
    • 82' Suarez dances into the Villa box. Tries to go round Guzan, but the keeper holds him up before saving his attempted chip seconds later.
    • 81' Johnson carries the ball forward, but then goes back to Downing. Some nice stuff here from Liverpool.
    • 80' Carragher doing some admirable work to halt the run of Agbonlahor. Brilliant piece of defending by the former England defender.
    • 79' Downing with a pretty horrendous attempt at goal. Lifts the ball well over the bar from distance.
    • 78' Delph clips Suarez with a late tackle. Liverpool have a free-kick here 35 yards from the home goal.
    • 77' Sterling fires the ball across goal, but straight into the welcoming arms of Guzan. Time the real enemy now for Villa.
    • 76' On comes Raheem Sterling for Liverpool and off goes Coutinho.
    • 75' Sylla departs to be replaced by Karim El Ahmadi for the home side.
    • 74' Villa with plenty of the ball and then they lose it. Enrique embarks on a run, but can't keep the ball in play. Goalkick to Villa. And changes coming.
    • 73' Lucas gives the ball away to Vlaar. Liverpool trying to keep possession and take the sting out of the match. Easier said than done. Villa pressed back at the moment.
    • 72' Steven Gerrard has now been involved in 18 Premier League goals this season, only in 08-09 (25) & 07-08 (19) has he been more productive.
    • 71' Lambert looking concerned on the side of the pitch. Villa can't afford to ship a third goal or this match is over.
    • 70' Johnson tries to send Suarez spinning clear with a longish ball, but too much pace on the attempted pass as Guzan races off his line to collect.
    • 69' Gerrard heads clear the N'Zogbia corner-kick before Liverpool once again regain possession. Liverpool on the move here.
    • 68' Lowton arrows a cross into the area, but Reina is forced to pedal back to nudge over his own bar.
    • 67' Delph tracking back to halt the run of Johnson. Liverpool have been the better side in the second half. Little doubt about that.
    • 66' Liverpool were without a penalty in their opening 18 Premier League games this season but have won five in the last six games - six overall.
    • 65' Some nice possession stuff from Liverpool, but looks like Bennett is going to need some treatment here.
    • 64' Gerrard manages to head off his line from Benteke's header. Brilliant stuff from the captain to protect the lead he gave his team.
    • 63' Delph cracks a volley at goal. Comes off Suarez before spinning behind the goal.
    • 62' Changes for the home side as N'Zogbia and Delph replace Bannan and Wiemann. Can they spark a recovery?
    • 61' Steven Gerrard with his 98th career Premier League. He has now scored three career Premier League goals at Villa Park.
    • 60' Glorious chance for Weimann, but he lifts the ball over the bar from five yards. How did he miss that? Should have been 2-2.
    • 59' GOAL! Guzan guessed right, but the ball flew right into the corner of the net as Gerrard's penalty sees Liverpool move 2-1 ahead. Suddenly Liverpool in command.
    • 58' PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Baker dives in on Suarez and that is a clear two-footed lunge. Easy decision for the referee to make.
    • 57' Johnson sees a drive come back off a post! Liverpool continue to find room to cause mayhem. So unfortunate there.
    • 56' Villa bombarding Liverpool with some testing high ball, but Carragher and Co stand tall to discourage Benteke.
    • 55' Suarez picks out Coutinho with a delightful ball through the middle, but he knocks the shot inches wide with Guzan well and truly exposed.
    • 54' Johnson on the run for Liverpool, but can't come up with the telling final ball as Villa again defend well when posed the big questions.
    • 53' An offside flag goes up against Suarez. Liverpool looking a bit more comfortable since netting that equaliser.
    • 52' Philippe Coutinho already has three times as many Premier League assists for Liverpool in six apps as Joe Cole managed in 26.
    • 51' Agbonlahor could have played in Sylla, but instead went for goal and thumps the shot miles over the bar. Disappointing end to that move.
    • 50' Jordan Henderson scores the equaliser. This is ninth Premier League goal and his fifth for Liverpool.
    • 49' Real body blow to Villa there, but what can they do in response? Caught cold for conking out at the start of the second period.
    • 48' Gerrard has been booked for a late challenge from behind on Agbonlahor. He is far from happy with referee Lee Mason.
    • 47' GOAL! Henderson lifts the ball over Guzan from Coutinho's ball and Liverpool are level at the outset of this second half. What a start to the second half.
    • 46' Off we go then for the second period.
    • 45+1' There goes the whistle for the break. A 1-0 lead for Villa at half-time.
    • 44' We are into one minute of time added on in the first period.
    • 43' Liverpool have collected 11 clean sheets this season and they will not add another one today. Only Manchester United (14) have claimed more than that in the current Premier League season.
    • 42' Brilliant diving stop by Guzan to make the save from the Gerrard howitzer. That ball swerved in the air from distance, but the Villa goalkeeper shows his class.
    • 41' Baker blocks the attempted cutback by Suarez. Liverpool continue to chase this equaliser.
    • 40' Downing throws the ball deep to the back post, but Coutinho can't rise to win the header.
    • 39' Guzan makes a fine stop from Suarez after Bannan needlessly lost possession. Looked a certain goal, but the goalkeeper was quickly off his line to block.
    • 38' Carragher with some strong handling skills on Benteke at these free-kicks. Needs to watch what he is doing here.
    • 37' Bannan picks out the run of Benteke, but his looping header is dealt with well by Reina
    • 36' Lucas bundles Westwood to the ground with a late challenge. And Villa have a chance here to get the big men up.
    • 35' Suarez decides to try his luck from a couple of yards inside the Villa half, but ends up lifting it well wide of goal.
    • 34' Christian Benteke extends the single season scoring record by a Belgian player to 14.
    • 33' Carragher just misses the Gerrard corner. Liverpool looking to restore parity, but Villa seem well in the mood here.
    • 32' Gerrard cuts a dash through the middle of the Villa box, but Baker is back in time to come up with the saving tackle.
    • 31' GOAL! Benteke drills the ball low into the corner of the net from Agbonlahor's lay-off. Fine finish from the edge of the area. Villa lead 1-0.
    • 30' Suarez manages to engineer some space after a prominent run, but he can't get the pace on the shot as Guzan makes the stop.
    • 29' Bannan with the free-kick. Another decent delivery, but Johnson is first to the ball to ensure Villa's big men can't do any damage.
    • 28' Carragher is beaten for pace by Benteke before he sends the striker crashing to the ground.
    • 27' Agbonlahor wallops a shot at goal. Plenty of pace on the shot, but he drags it a couple of yards wide from distance.
    • 26' Enrique pulls the ball across the face of goal, but Vlaar is back to cut out the danger.
    • 25' Liverpool have lost only one of their last 11 Premier League matches in the city of Birmingham.
    • 24' Coutinho tries to inject some pace to get away from Westwood, but Lowton is quickly back to make the covering tackle.
    • 23' Coutinho picks out a lovely ball through to middle to find Suarez, but he can't get the shot away as Baker races back to make the tackle.
    • 22' Villa playing some neat stuff out there to keep possession. Moving the ball from side to side as Bennett collects out wide.
    • 21' Weimann gallops onto the ball over the top. Moves well to collect Bennett's pass, but the final ball is a disappointment across the face of goal.
    • 20' Christian Benteke has scored four Premier League goals against Merseyside opposition this season. If he scores today he will equal the most against them by any player in a season, level with six other players - the last of which was Alan Shearer in 2003-04.
    • 19' Lucas with another late tackle on Agbonlahor. That is his third foul. He must be close to a yellow card out there.
    • 18' Suarez forces Guzan to tip a shot over the bar after he was played in by Johnson. Lovely pass.
    • 17' Vlaar misses the ball from Downing's cross and Coutinho can't connect with the delivery. Nervy moments at the back for Villa.
    • 16' Villa starting to find a bit more joy pressing forward, but Bannan overhits a cross and Liverpool can break to the other end.
    • 15' Agbonlahor blows a golden chance to give Villa the lead as he knocks the ball straight at Reina from five yards out. Lovely ball by Lowton. Should have been the opening goal.
    • 14' Lucas late on Benteke and Villa will have a free-kick just inside the Liverpool half.
    • 13' Weimann dinks the ball to the back post, but Carragher beats Benteke to it to ensure the forward can't get a free header at the visiting goal.
    • 12' Gerrard throws in a high corner, but a decent piece of defending by Vlaar to clear the danger.
    • 11' Baker doing well to cut out the cross from Gerrard as Liverpool earn a corner.
    • 10' Bannan loses the ball, but Lowton does well to halt the run of Coutinho for the visiting side. Villa can't afford to be shedding possession so cheaply.
    • 9' Johnson has an effort at goal that deflects off a Villa shirt before nestling in the arms of Guzan. Appeals for a penalty, but didn't look much in it.
    • 8' Lowton's ball over the top sails through to Reina in the visiting goal. Villa yet to really settle on the ball so far.
    • 7' Liverpool lead the Premier League in total shot attempts (504). Aston Villa have recorded third fewest (288) in the division.
    • 6' Downing feeds the ball to Suarez, but he lifts the ball well over the bar from just inside the Villa box.
    • 5' Benteke just failing to control the ball up front. He scored twice in the 3-1 win at Liverpool in December and is looking to repeat the trick here today.
    • 4' Went at that with his head. So near, yet so far. An offside flag then goes up against Downing after he set off too early.
    • 3' Bennett with a lovely cross into the middle, but Benteke misses the ball as it came across. So close to the opening goal for Villa.
    • 2' Suarez just failing to connect with an Enrique ball over the top. Guzan out of his goal quickly to collect the loose ball.
    • 1' We are off and running in this one at Villa Park.
    • 13:25 Match odds for this one in case you fancy a flutter: Aston Villa (4/1) Liverpoool (3/4) Draw (3/1)
    • 13:20 Steven Gerrard has played every single minute (2700) of Liverpool’s Premier League season so far – Matt Lowton (Aston Villa) and Leighton Baines (Everton) are the only other outfield players to have achieved this in 2012-13. Christian Benteke has scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League appearances, and he netted twice against Liverpool earlier this season.
    • 13:15 Aston Villa have lost just one of their last four Premier League games against Liverpool and won 3-1 away at Anfield earlier this season. Paul Lambert has won all three of his Premier League games against Brendan Rodgers; against no other manager has he secured as many wins. Steven Gerrard has scored 10 Premier League goals against Aston Villa; more than against any other opponent.
    • 13:10 Brendan Rodgers: "We have shown enough times in games that we have the technical consistency and tactical qualities to physically cope with games. The problem is mental consistency and that’s something we will need to improve on going forward if we are going to challenge.”
    • 13:05 Paul Lambert: "Liverpool are a massive club. I know Brendan really well and have a lot of time for him. We came through the Championship together and had some great battles at Norwich and Swansea when we were there. Brendan has said, with his team, it will take three or four years to get where he wants to get it. It won't be any different from here because we're trying to build certain things."
    • 13:00 Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert welcomes back a quartet of players but has fitness concerns over two others. Darren Bent (foot), Nathan Baker (head) and Karim El Ahmadi (ankle) were all in contention to face the Reds but the latter two start. Fabian Delph is available after a two-game suspension. But is on the bench. Ciaran Clark and Brett Holman suffered shoulder and hamstring injuries while on international duty and were assessed over the weekend. Neither are involved.
    • 12:55 Liverpool make four changes with Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Jordan Henderson and Lucas all returning to the starting line-up. Reina and Carragher missed the defeat at Southampton almost a fortnight ago with calf and shin injuries respectively but have subsequently recovered. All players have returned from international duty without reporting any problems so it leaves only Fabio Borini, Joe Allen (both shoulder) and Martin Kelly (knee) absent.
    • 12:50 Teams: Aston Villa: Guzan, Lowton, Vlaar [c], Baker, Bennett, Westwood, Bannan, Sylla, Agbonlahor, Weimann, Benteke..subs: Given, N'Zogbia, Delph, Dawkins, El Ahmadi, Bowery, Lichaj////Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Enrique, Carragher, Agger, Lucas, Henderson, Gerrard, Coutinho, Downing, Suarez..subs: Jones, Coates, Skrtel, Shelvey, Sterling, Suso, Sturridge
    • 12:45 Good afternoon and welcome to LIVE coverage of Aston Villa against Liverpool at Villa Park. A win today would see Villa move above Sunderland in the Premier League after they sacked Martin O'Neill last night. All to play for with Liverpool trying to finish the season strongly as theh chase local rivals Everton in pursuit of European football.

  • Summary

    • 82' Suarez dances into the Villa box. Tries to go round Guzan, but the keeper holds him up before saving his attempted chip seconds later.
    • 64' Gerrard manages to head off his line from Benteke's header. Brilliant stuff from the captain to protect the lead he gave his team.
    • 60' Glorious chance for Weimann, but he lifts the ball over the bar from five yards. How did he miss that? Should have been 2-2.
    • 59' GOAL! Guzan guessed right, but the ball flew right into the corner of the net as Gerrard's penalty sees Liverpool move 2-1 ahead. Suddenly Liverpool in command.
    • 58' PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Baker dives in on Suarez and that is a clear two-footed lunge. Easy decision for the referee to make.
    • 55' Suarez picks out Coutinho with a delightful ball through the middle, but he knocks the shot inches wide with Guzan well and truly exposed.
    • 47' GOAL! Henderson lifts the ball over Guzan from Coutinho's ball and Liverpool are level at the outset of this second half. What a start to the second half.
    • 42' Brilliant diving stop by Guzan to make the save from the Gerrard howitzer. That ball swerved in the air from distance, but the Villa goalkeeper shows his class.
    • 39' Guzan makes a fine stop from Suarez after Bannan needlessly lost possession. Looked a certain goal, but the goalkeeper was quickly off his line to block.
    • 32' Gerrard cuts a dash through the middle of the Villa box, but Baker is back in time to come up with the saving tackle.
    • 31' GOAL! Benteke drills the ball low into the corner of the net from Agbonlahor's lay-off. Fine finish from the edge of the area. Villa lead 1-0.
    • 18' Suarez forces Guzan to tip a shot over the bar after he was played in by Johnson. Lovely pass.
    • 17' Vlaar misses the ball from Downing's cross and Coutinho can't connect with the delivery. Nervy moments at the back for Villa.
    • 15' Agbonlahor blows a golden chance to give Villa the lead as he knocks the ball straight at Reina from five yards out. Lovely ball by Lowton. Should have been the opening goal.
    • 3' Bennett with a lovely cross into the middle, but Benteke misses the ball as it came across. So close to the opening goal for Villa.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6.4 7
      Defenders
      5.3 6
      5.2 6
      5 5
      4.9 5
      Midfielders
      Yellow Card 4.9 5
      Substitution Out77′ 4.8 6
      Substitution Out62′ 4.7 5
      Strikers
      Substitution Out63′ 5.4 5
      5.5 6
      Goal 7.1 7
      Subs
      Substitution In63′ 4.5 6
      Substitution In77′ 4.1 6
      Substitution In62′ 4.8 6
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      6 7
      Defenders
      5.6 7
      6.2 6
      6 7
      6.1 6
      Midfielders
      Goal 6 7
      5.6 6
      5.2 7
      Goal Yellow Card 7.4 8
      Substitution Out77′ 6.9 7
      Strikers
      6.7 7
      Subs
      Substitution In77′ 6.8 6

Comment 132 - 152 of 152

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  1. Can the Liverpool stop using Lucas Leiva , have been­ noted if LL in the game are 10 mens playing and unable­ to win,pls pls pls.

    From CHAN, on Sun 7 Apr 5:54

  2. Guzan deserves to be the United States number 1. He is­ miles ahead of Tim Howard...

    From Matteos Maserati, on Tue 2 Apr 16:23

  3. Armchair phony #$%$ fans banging on about Liverpool­ being awarded pens? lol, scraping the bottom of that­ complaining barrell now.....

    From MICHAEL, on Mon 1 Apr 10:17

  4. This was a good win for Liverpool even though we were­ very lucky to win it in the end. Please we don't­ want to hear neither the manager nor the players about­ this win will now lead us to conquer the EPL and­ qualify for the Champions League. Please I beg you ­ don't do it. Every time you boast we will do and we­ will do that, we have gone on to lose a match that we­ should have won with all eyes closed. Remember no one­ plays football with their mouth.

    From O.S., on Mon 1 Apr 2:53

  5. I've always rated Benteke, he is top draw.

    From MICHAEL, on Sun 31 Mar 20:44

  6. Decent game to watch, Benteke would look good in scouse­ red! YNWA!

    From Anfieldstar, on Sun 31 Mar 19:53

  7. yo benteke

    From , on Sun 31 Mar 19:46

  8. So Aston Villa surrender to an average Liverpool side­ today at Villa Park in front of almost 43,000 hopeful­ fans. It is incredable so many fans turned out to­ watch their beloved team, and even more incredable,­ that Randy Lerner has let this giant of the English­ Premier slide to such depths! I ask myself, would even­ Liverpool or Arsenal pull so many people for a­ relegation fight?! Surely it proves to any doubters­ that Villa is still a huge sleeping giant?! I love­ Aston Villa, my father did, so did his father, and his,­ it sickens me to see such a wonderful old football club­ on the brink of ruin

    From Declan, on Sun 31 Mar 17:38

  9. So one of the three richest clubs clubs in the world is­ going to win the EPL again.No doubt we will have all­ the press telling us how great they are.(If they don't­ they get barred from press interviews).Then we will­ have the M/U fans telling us how wonderful their team­ is..How they are in the C/L again.What they omit to­ talk about is when they meet one or other of the other­ two richest clubs in the world in the C/L.They get­ their #$%$ smacked and get sent home to England looking­ like a rag tag and bobtail outfit.

    From peter f, on Sun 31 Mar 17:31
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Nice to see Liverpool in the top 4 again, that is of­ course penalties awarded to them.Whats that 6 penalties­ this season ? , the difference between mid-table and a­ relegation battle,very poor side for a Liverpool team.

    From peter, on Sun 31 Mar 16:33

  11. another mesirable n boring season 4 aston villa

    From samir, on Sun 31 Mar 15:44

  12. Revenge is sweet. Aston Villa should know that we are­ not in their class. Be busy with your relegation­ battle.

    From Hiscoming, on Sun 31 Mar 15:34

  13. "Carragher doing some admirable work to halt the­ run of Agbonlahor." .. RUGBY TACKLE WAS IT ?.

    From phil, on Sun 31 Mar 15:32

  14. Nice to see my 'negative trick' worked once­ again. Well done to Liverpool, taxi still waiting for­ Lambert:)

    From bobby, on Sun 31 Mar 15:29

  15. A Collectors Item this season anyway..... A Liverpool­ game where Suarez didn't score a goal

    From Raymond, on Sun 31 Mar 15:27

  16. 3 to go down , aston villa, sunderland and reading

    From TREVOR, on Sun 31 Mar 15:25

  17. BLUEBULLY. correct, you are much nearer to winning a­ title than we are. the way things are going, it will­ probably be the CHAMPIONSHIP title. at least you will­ get the birmingham v villa derbies back.

    From Tony, on Sun 31 Mar 15:25

  18. Well done again Liverpool....I can now go and visit my­ son, I am banned from his place when you are­ playing....he reckons I am a jinx.

    From Liz, on Sun 31 Mar 15:25

  19. awww poor little brummies

    From Mark, on Sun 31 Mar 15:23

  20. Downnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

    From Goran, on Sun 31 Mar 15:22
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