Liverpool v Aston Villa

Liverpool v Aston Villa

Monday 6 December 2010

The loss of Fernando Torres to labour duties with the impending birth of his second child, presented Ryan Babel with the opportunity to further enhance his position and as a potential understudy and strike partner.

With Reina, Kyriagkos and Babel the only starters remaining from the Europa League game against Steaua, the team had more of a workmanlike, but balanced look, with the defensive pillars of Kyriagkos and Skertel, supported either side by Johnson and Konchesky and the favoured midfield quartet, outside of Gerarrd of Kuyt, Maxi, Lucas and Meireles, with Ngog upfront with Babel.

Liverpool were immediately on the front foot with the midfield axis of Lucas and Meireles not just breaking up play, but becoming the heartbeat of the team.  Meireles is becoming increasingly  influential, his one touch and short passing enable him to control the tempo of the game, in a different manner from Xabi Alonso because he is more fleet of foot which enables to link the defence as well as the attack.  Lucas seems to have finally adapted to the physical nature of English football and it is a tribute to his strong mental strength that he has produced some of the best performances of his Liverpool career this season.  With Meireles seemingly a fixture in the centre, the imminent return of Gerrard will pose some interesting questions.

Lucas driving run forward and pass caused consternation in the Villains defence, with pressure from first Babel and then Kuyt forcing a corner.  From the resulting deep corner, swung over from Meireles, Skertel powered a header toward goal, where Ngog reacting in the way only a predator would, nodded home on the 14th minute mark.  Carrying the momentum forward Liverpool doubled their lead 2 minutes later, when Lucas played a delightful ball over the ex-Kopite Warnock, which Babel dispatched with aplomb.  His body language hints at a more steely disposition than previously gauged.

There were many positives which Liverpool extolled in this game, but none more pleasing than Ngog contributions. Not just because he scored a trademark penalty box goal, but moreover, he showed a willingness to lift his head-up and seek out colleagues.  He has been prone to run with his head down, which is obviously not conducive to adding to the assists column, let alone playing in a dual striking role. 

The third goal which he set up, after 55 minutes, was a perfect example where after a driving run down the left channel to latch on to a ball from Maxi, he surveyed two options, the first, the easier, was to roll the ball across for his well marked strike partner, the second, which led to the goal, was a perfectly waited pass between two defenders and back in to the path of Maxi Rodriguez, who showed great composure and technique in opening out his body, to side foot his shot in the top corner of the net.

Apart from a close range shot from Agbonlahor, brilliantly blocked by Reina, Villa were fairly impotent, in attack, so much so that Liverpool rarely had to get out of second gear. Villa quickly introduced Delfouneso after the break for Clark and Carew for Agbonlahor with 25 minutes to go, but after the third goal the death knell had been sounded.

Hodgson has to be commended  for playing an expansive and fluent front-line in the absence of Torres and Gerrard and it maybe that 4-4-2 is more suitable than 4-5-1 with the players he has at his disposal. Reina kept his 100th clean sheet for the club in record time, ahead of such giants as Clemence and Grobelaar which is a confidence booster for the club, especially after such a bad start.

If the momentum at home can be transferred to the away games, starting at Newcastle on Saturday, who is to say that with those above still dropping points that a top five finish is not beyond the realms of possibility, especially as the club do not play any of the top four until early February.

KP

6 December 2010