First half goals from Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtel fired Liverpool to a 2-0 win at Villa Park that lifts the Reds up to sixth in the league table.
Wales international Craig Bellamy was an inspirational figure for Liverpool, scoring the opening goal for the Reds, before setting up Skrtel for the second soon after.
Liverpool started brightly and winger Stewart Downing fired wide when presented with an early chance. Downing was playing at Villa Park for the first time since leaving to join the Reds, and the home fans taunted his woeful finish.
Downing helped silence those fans in the 11th minute when he swung over a dangerous corner. Jonjo Shelvey and Luis Suarez diverted the ball, before Bellamy smashed home the opening goal.
Four minutes later, Bellamy swung over a corner that Skrtel rose highest to head firmly past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
French playmaker Charles N’Zogbia was Villa’s biggest goal threat, and he fired over the bar and into the side netting with Villa’s best two chances in the first half.
Liverpool started the second half on the front foot, and Daniel Agger headed wide when a teasing Bellamy cross found him unmarked at the back post.
Uruguay international striker Suarez had two chances to make it three for Liverpool during the second half, but was twice denied by the woodwork. First Suarez beat defenders James Collins and Richard Dunne before firing his shot against the crossbar. Suarez then tried to chip Guzan from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort bounced back off the goalpost.
There were no other major goal scoring opportunities as the game progressed for either side, but Liverpool had the better of possession and closed out a comfortable 2-0 win.
This was the second straight win, and second straight clean sheet for Liverpool and will have calmed some of the fears fans had about ther midfield personnel.
Brazilian workhorse Lucas suffered a season ending knee injury in the Carling Cup quarter-final victory at Chelsea last month. Things quickly got worse when Liverpool lost their next Premier League game 1-0 at Fulham, and potential replacement Jay Spearing was sent off.
However, the Reds engine room has recovered, and impressive performances from Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson have led the Reds to victories over Queens Park Rangers and now Villa.
Young midfielder JonJo Shelvey is another option for Kenny Dalglish, and played well at Villa Park.
Shelvey recently returned to Anfield after a loan spell at Championship club Blackpool. Shelvey was awarded the Npower Football League player of the month award recently for his performances at Bloomfield Road.
LINEUPS
AST – Guzan, Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Collins, N’Zogbia, Albrighton, Delph (Weimann 80), Petrov, Delfouneso, Heskey (Bannan 56).
LIV – Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Henderson, Downing, Adam, Shelvey (Carragher 83), Suarez (Carroll 73), Bellamy (Kuyt 88).
SCORING SUMMARY
LIV – Craig Bellamy (Luis Suarez) 11’
LIV – Martin Skrtel (Craig Bellamy) 15’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool)
Attendance: 37,460
Liverpool started brightly and winger Stewart Downing fired wide when presented with an early chance. Downing was playing at Villa Park for the first time since leaving to join the Reds, and the home fans taunted his woeful finish.
Downing helped silence those fans in the 11th minute when he swung over a dangerous corner. Jonjo Shelvey and Luis Suarez diverted the ball, before Bellamy smashed home the opening goal.
Four minutes later, Bellamy swung over a corner that Skrtel rose highest to head firmly past Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
French playmaker Charles N’Zogbia was Villa’s biggest goal threat, and he fired over the bar and into the side netting with Villa’s best two chances in the first half.
Liverpool started the second half on the front foot, and Daniel Agger headed wide when a teasing Bellamy cross found him unmarked at the back post.
Uruguay international striker Suarez had two chances to make it three for Liverpool during the second half, but was twice denied by the woodwork. First Suarez beat defenders James Collins and Richard Dunne before firing his shot against the crossbar. Suarez then tried to chip Guzan from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort bounced back off the goalpost.
There were no other major goal scoring opportunities as the game progressed for either side, but Liverpool had the better of possession and closed out a comfortable 2-0 win.
This was the second straight win, and second straight clean sheet for Liverpool and will have calmed some of the fears fans had about ther midfield personnel.
Brazilian workhorse Lucas suffered a season ending knee injury in the Carling Cup quarter-final victory at Chelsea last month. Things quickly got worse when Liverpool lost their next Premier League game 1-0 at Fulham, and potential replacement Jay Spearing was sent off.
However, the Reds engine room has recovered, and impressive performances from Charlie Adam and Jordan Henderson have led the Reds to victories over Queens Park Rangers and now Villa.
Young midfielder JonJo Shelvey is another option for Kenny Dalglish, and played well at Villa Park.
Shelvey recently returned to Anfield after a loan spell at Championship club Blackpool. Shelvey was awarded the Npower Football League player of the month award recently for his performances at Bloomfield Road.
LINEUPS
AST – Guzan, Hutton, Warnock, Dunne, Collins, N’Zogbia, Albrighton, Delph (Weimann 80), Petrov, Delfouneso, Heskey (Bannan 56).
LIV – Reina, Johnson, Jose Enrique, Agger, Skrtel, Henderson, Downing, Adam, Shelvey (Carragher 83), Suarez (Carroll 73), Bellamy (Kuyt 88).
SCORING SUMMARY
LIV – Craig Bellamy (Luis Suarez) 11’
LIV – Martin Skrtel (Craig Bellamy) 15’
LiveSoccerTV Man of the Match: Craig Bellamy (Liverpool)
Attendance: 37,460
