Another day and another dollar and Brendan Rodgers lives to fight another day.
Excellent performances by Milner and Lucas were overshadowed the brilliance of Daniel Sturridge which proved to be the difference in a game where the England striker should have had a hat-trick, providing the cutting edge we’ve been missing so far this season.
Without the injured Benteke, Henderson and Firmino, Rodgers chose to pair the inform Ings with his talisman Sturridge and started Emre Can again in defence. Mignolet and Sakho returned after missing the skin of the teeth Capital One victory over Carlisle.
Liverpool started in stunning fashion fashion going one-nil up inside two minutes with a goal by James Milner against his former club. The midfielder collected a pass inside from Coutinho and on the swivel hit a superb left-footed volley past the sprawling Brad Guzan.
It was just the start to quell the nerves.
Liverpool’s proceeding to dominate the next twenty minutes, pressing and harrying far up the pitch, so much so that Villa were pressed back on edge of their area. Milner seemingly given a more free role was popping all over the pitch revelling in the opportunity of a less restricted role.
The dominance in possession failed to give Liverpool anymore clear cut chances in the half and it was Villa who almost gained parity. Can covering back carelessly knocked the ball into the path of Gestede, who fortunately for the defender slashed wildly shooting wide of the post.
Minutes into the second-half Danny Ings, playing in a slightly wider berth to make room for Sturridge, chased back fully 40 yards to dispossess Gestede showing the type of passion Liverpool will need alongside the brilliance of Sturridge and Coutinho.
Milner almost struck a second driving onto a Moreno pass before seeing his left-footed shot brilliantly saved by Guzan with Clyne’s follow-up shot brilliantly blocked.
Sturridge then lit up the stadium for a brilliantly worked goal. Playing a one-two with the Milner, the ex-Man City man lifted the ball back into Sturridge’s path for him to drive his volley into the corner of the net – a great goal in creation and clinical in the way it was taken.
The common factor in Brendan Rodgers years at Anfield is the inability to keep clean sheets and this was no different. Alan Hutton powered through inside the area to the by-line tracked by Lucas, cut the ball back for a grateful Gestede to put his side back in the game.
Brendan Rodgers will be doing a prayer tonight hoping Daniel Sturridge remains fit for the rest of the season because quite simply the striker guarantees goals.
Sturridge is not just a striker he’s an excellent footballer able to link and build an understanding with good players like Milner as in his first goal and Coutinho on his second.
Drifting out left Sturridge found Coutinho, the impish Brazilian flicked the ball backed into his path with Sturridge ghosting in literally passing the ball into the corner of the net round Lescott with measured brilliance. It was the goal of an artist.
The nature of Villa’s next goal will worry Rodgers and supporters alike. The ball travelled from almost the touch line to the centre of the Liverpool area where Gestede towered powerfully above Sakho to head into the net, leaving Sakho sprawled on the ground. Micah Richards almost repeated the dose rising above Sakho to head just over.
Daniel Sturridge lack of fitness cost him a hat-trick. He ran out of legs unable to break free of the attention of Micah Richards who blocked his shot and then saw his his right-footed shot in the area well saved by Gurzan diving low to left.
Four minutes into injury time Sturridge was replaced by Joe Allen to a standing ovation.
Man of the match: Daniel Sturridge – His finishes oozed class and were the difference. Two very different goals a volley and a shot guided into the corner with a precision that sets apart the top class finishers.
Critical eye: Lcas Leiva was immense making and winning 11 tackles. It says something that Brendan Rodgers wanted to rid himself of the Brazilian international, but in saying that if Liverpool only possessed a player who also controlled the tempo in that position in would create a new dimension in our play.James Milner had his best game yet thriving in a more free role in which his link play with Sturridge and Coutinho led to two of the three goals.
The defence is worrying in central positions and Can as part of the three doesn’t work. Rodgers needs to trust Skrtel and Sakho in a back two or move to an authentic centre-half Gomez, particularly in the absence of Lovren.
I would like to to see Liverpool go to a back four and release Can in midfield as he potentially possesses the power and creative abilities to control the game in behind Coutinho.
Liverpool: 22 Mignolet, 23 Can, 37 Skrtel, 17 Sakho, 2 Clyne, 7 Milner, 21 Lucas, 17 Moreno, , 10 Coutinho, 28 Ings, 15 Sturridge (Allen – 94 mins)
Subs: 4 K Toure, 12 Gomez, 20 Lallana, 24 Allen, 27 Origi, 33 Ibe, 34 Bodgan
Referee: Jonathan Moss
Attendance: 44,228
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