Potential future LFC player dents Euro League hopes once and for all

Potential future LFC player dents Euro League hopes once and for all

By dedlfc

If he was trying to impress LFC management Stewart Downing must be given full marks for producing the one moment of real quality in a scrappy game to give Aston Villa their first victory at home to Liverpool since February 1998.

The England international fired home from a narrow angle off the underside of the crossbar in the 33rd minute to end our chances of overtaking fifth-placed Tottenham in the race for Europa League qualification.

We again seemed quite subdued and struggled to get going, giving King Kenny plenty to consider as he prepares for his first summer transfer window.

Midfielder Joe Cole made his first start for more than two months - and his first in the Barclays Premier League under Kenny Dalglish - as Liverpool made three changes for their final match of the season at Aston Villa.

The England international returned alongside fellow midfielder Raul Meireles and defender Fabio Aurelio as Glen Johnson, Maxi Rodriguez and Andy Carroll were left out of the squad completely having featured in last week's 2-0 defeat to Tottenham.

With injured Reds captain Steven Gerrard sat smiling among our travelling supporters we started better than we had a week ago against Spurs.

Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker was booked as early as the seventh minute for a rash foul on Jay Spearing, at the time you wouldn’t have thought it would be a key moment but it affected our game play quite significantly, Spearing, who lasted just four minutes longer before trudging off down the tunnel to be replaced by Jonjo Shelvey.

The first shot of note went to Meireles, whose right-footed effort on the turn was deflected for a corner from which Lucas Leiva had a shot cleared off the line by Ashley Young.

With 20 minutes gone we were temporarily reduced to 10 men with Jamie Carragher forced off to have treatment on a bleeding head wound after a clash with Lucas at a Villa corner.

Downing smashed home a shot past Jose Reina from a narrow angle off the underside of the crossbar.

Liverpool came close to equalising when Aurelio's bending free-kick only just evaded a diving Martin Skrtel at the far post.

Cole had a chance to atone for an anonymous opening 45 minutes when Lucas' lofted ball picked him out in the penalty area but he ballooned a shot well over.

Kyle Walker was booked for pulling back Luis Suarez, having an unusually quiet game for him, as he tried to break into the box but Meireles' free-kick failed to clear the wall.

The Portugal midfielder had a chance to make amends just past the hour when Suarez's cut-back took out the sliding Walker and James Collins but former Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Friedel clawed out the shot.

A disappointing afternoon for Cole was ended in the 67th minute when he was replaced by David Ngog and he now faces an uncertain Anfield future. In the 10 Premier League matches Cole has played at least 45 mins in – we have won just 8 pts out of a possible 30 pts.

Aurelio drilled wide a 25-yard free-kick and Suarez fired over from the edge of the area as the match entered the final quarter.

Villa substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor somehow missed Darren Bent's cross from three yards to wrap things up while Petrov was denied only by the diving Reina.

Ashley Young's withdrawal minutes from the end saw the player, entering the last year of his contract and linked with both Liverpool and Manchester United; applaud all four sides of the ground.

We found out a couple of important things going into the summer from the last two games the lack of pace has negated our play and ability to stretch teams.

This summer King Kenny, Comolli and co will have the perfect chance to address this, with an opportunity to pick up some quality players i.e. Young, Nzogbia – untried in the Premiership but class players i.e. Hazard and continue blooding fresh young local talent from within the LFC ranks i.e. Sterling, Coady.

Finally had we won points all season at Dalglish's rate (33 from 18), we'd have finished 4th. At Hodgson's rate (25 from 20) we'd have been 10th. Thanks to Christian Purslow’s poor managerial choice at the start of the season which has cost us a place back on the elite table of European football.

By dedlfc