Liverpool Show Tremendous Resilience To Achieve Victory

Brendan Rodgers obviously still reeling from the mauling by Southampton stiffened up his midfield, with Jordan Henderson returning to the fray and striker Daniel Sturridge, fighting for fitness, on the bench. Martin Skrtel after his nightmarish performance against Southampton succumbed to the pressure exerted by Carragher returning from injury keeping Sturridge company.

Liverpool dominated the opening skirmishes, with the midfield posing problems for their counterparts, with Downing seeing a lot of the ball. But, it was Villa who almost broke the deadlock when Bennett's excellent cross was somehow missed by Benteke and Agbonlahor on his heels not pre-empting the ball coming through to him, failed to connect from close in.

The early dominance by our midfield three failed to manifest itself into scoring opportunities and on the quarter hour Lowton produced a beautiful low cross curled into for the arriving Agbonlahor who somehow managed shoot straight at Reina from point blank range. Minutes later Downing on the run crossed just out of reach of Coutinho sliding in at far post.

The Villains began to take control in midfield pressing and closing down and allowing Gerrard and co little chance to control the flow of the game. That being said, Liverpool possessed the top quality performers on display, barring Benteke, and one of those Coutinho put Suarez through with a sublime ball to race into the area, but as he opened his body out as he has so many times the chance was snuffed out.

Villa took the lead when Agbonlahor raced past Carragher on to a long Westwood pass before knocking the ball down with his thigh into the flight path of Benteke who smashed for ball into the Liverpool net for the third time this season. Once again a high ball caused disruption in the Liverpool defence and it's a worrying facet of our game which has worked its way into the psyche of our defenders.

Suarez was proving a handful and had a shot tipped over after a slide rule reverse ball by Glen Johnson and the League's top scorer uncharacteristically hit his shot straight at Guzan when clean through. It was beginning to look like one of the days when Gerrard's drive was palmed away by the Villa keeper.

Shortly after the break Liverpool equalised. It was stunning in its creation and devastating in its execution. The Liverpool captain showed his class with a glorious pass out of defence to Coutinho, who in turn delivered a sensational ball into the stride of the marauding Henderson who clipped his shot over Guzan.

We were now on the march and Coutinho who has already in his short Liverpool career showed composure in front of goal, sprung the off-side trap after being released by a sumptuous Suarez through ball failed on the occasion, just squeezing his shot the wrong side of the post. Minutes later, Glen Johnson cutting back on his left-foot saw his deflected shot smack against the post.

The winner was not slow in coming.  Suarez spinning away from Baker lured the youngster into a rash challenge giving up a penalty.   Gerrard dispatched the resultant penalty into the corner of the net.

Villa were not finished yet and had chances to equalise. Weimann scooped over from Sylla's cross and Benteke's header was magnificently headed off the line by Gerrard with Reina beaten all ends up. Reina showed great agility to skip backwards and tip over Lowton's cross come shot.

Suarez on a one on one after an interchange with Johnson, went round Guzan who managed to get his finger tips on the ball, which caused Suarez to double back, taking the ball away from the incoming Sterling, who had replaced Coutinho, to chip the ball straight into the keeper’s hands.

Benteke with almost the last kick had the ball had the Liverpool net, but was rightly called offside.

Kop Post Man of The Match: Steven Gerrard - Gerrard is refining his game and this was certainly apparent. His driving runs are more considered as he saves energy, but in the second-half he helped control the pace of the game looking to retain possession, moving the ball from around. Where many players would've hammered the ball out of defence, he played a lovely ball up to halfway to Coutinho, starting the move which led to the equaliser and dispatched a fine penalty. At the other end, he pulled off a stupendous headed goalline clearance. Captain Fantastic!

Philippe Coutinho produced an excellent display with his link up play with Suarez putting the striker through on a one on one and his defence splitting pass putting Jordan Henderson through to slot in the equaliser. He has fitted into the team with purpose and has given the team an extra dimension in attack.

Critical Eye: Jamie Carragher brings organisation to a defence in desperate need of it. He is someway short of his best, but the displays of his cohorts in that position suggest we need major surgery in that area and it could possibly be two in two out and that doesn't include the retiring veteran defender.

Downing Watch: Started energetically, whipping in one ball which was just out of the reach of Coutinho at the far post, but other than that was not a creative force. He has a propensity to cut in and shoot without creating room - he had three shots blocked and one blocked cross with a free-kick which sailed high wide and handsome. Not wanting to sound like a Downing critique, but the creativity on the other side of the pitch is what Downing is up against and it maybe that his future might be as a squad player once more quality is bought in.

Manager's Comments: "We played reasonably well in the first half but we were punished for a mistake. We upped the tempo after the break and we were excellent. It is a terrific win for us. Both teams went right to the end.

"Our quality was there for all to see, and the rhythm and flow of our passing was improved.

"Villa went to a diamond and we exploited the space out wide. Coutinho's pass for the Henderson goal was superb, and Henderson's determination and desire to make the run was outstanding."

Special Mention: Liverpool mascot Joshua Jackson suffering from cancer has been told by doctor's he can return home.  :-) 

Team: 25 Reina, 2 Johnson, 3 Enrique, 5 Agger, 23 Carragher, 8 Gerrard, 14 Henderson, 21 Lucas, 10 Coutinho (Sterling 77 min), 19 Downing, 7 Suarez,

Substitutes: 1 Jones, 16 Coates, 37 Skrtel, 31 Sterling, 30 Suso, 33 Shelvey, 15 Sturridge

Ref: Lee Mason

Attendance: 42,037