Aston Villa Vs Liverpool Match Report

A match report I found from 2008, at sixteen years of age. Thought I'd post on here...

Aston Villa Vs Liverpool                  Villa Park                   31/08/2008

In a match that was always overshadowed by the on-going transfer saga regarding Liverpool’s persistent interest in Villa’s Gareth Barry, neither of the two teams were able to win the battle for revenge, forcing the two sides to share the points in a frustrating game at Villa park.

Shown live courtesy of Sky Sports, this was not a game any neutral viewers would remember as a classic. Chances were far and few between with both teams finding it equally as hard to break down the oppositions back line.

The opening 25 minutes were frustrating for both teams, neither able to show any real quality in the final 3^rd. The likes of Spanish hero Torres and new 18-million pound signing Robbie Keane were filtered out at every opportunity by Villa’s impressive defensive pairing of Martin Laursen and Curtis Davies. Liverpool’s troubles worsened mid way through the second half as star striker Fernando Torres limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. An incident not only to worry all associated with Liverpool football club, but one for new Spanish coach Del Bosque to take notice of. 19-year-old David N’Gog was the man given the job of replacing Torres in Liverpool’s front line.

Aston Villa’s best chance of the half came in the 35^th minute. Some excellent build up play down the left involving Liverpool’s long-term transfer target Gareth Barry, carved out an opportunity for Ashley Young; Young unselfishly laid it back to Villa striker John Carew, only for the big Norwegian to fire straight at the legs of Liverpool Goalkeeper Pepe Reina.

Liverpool’s mid-week champions league goal hero Dirk Kuyt found himself with an opportunity for a rare Liverpool shot at goal when a cross from the left was poorly headed clear by Villa defender Nicky Shorey; Only for Kuyt to find the wrong side of the net.

Liverpool new boy Robbie Keane showed great awareness to set up Liverpool’s second clear cut chance of the first half, when he played a neat ball into the path of the on-running substitute N’Gog – all though his effort ended up landing on the top of Brad Friedel’s net to the disappointment of the travelling Liverpool fans.

The half ended on a sour note for Liverpool as Martin Skrtel picked up the first yellow card of the evening, via a foul on Villa’s John Carew.

Half Time: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0

Liverpool came out from their half time team talk far more positively. A number of Liverpool set-pieces, most notably corners – creating reason for panic in the Villa defence. Liverpool’s gained positivity appeared to rub-off on Aston Villa who began to create opportunities themselves. A wonderful corner from set-piece specialist Ashley Young was headed goalwards by John Carew before deflecting off the head of Martin Skrtel. Referee Martin Atkinson and his assistants failed to notice this, awarding a goal kick; much to the displeasure of Villa and John Carew in particular.

Liverpool continued to carve out further opportunities, with creative midfielder Xabi Alonso firing a shot into the outstretched legs of Jamie Carragher, and winning a another corner for his team. Friedel was called into action for the first time in the 52^nd minute as Liverpool wing-back Dossena’s attempted cross diverted towards goal, forcing the American stopper to tip it over the bar.

Villa fans were given reason to gain excitement when new signing James Milner was introduced just over the hour mark. All though a Stiliyan Petrov effort on the volley that creeped past Reina’s right hand post was all Villa could create as Liverpool began to ever so slightly dominate the play.

2 minutes later and every Liverpool and Villa fan alike must have thought new signing Robbie Keane was about to make the score 1-0 in Liverpool’s favour after a perfectly weighted ball over the top from Javier Mascherano; but the striker showed a distinct lack of confidence when he dallied on the ball, allowing Villa’s stand in right back Reo-Coker to produce an excellent recovery challenge. Keane was later substituted for Israel international Yossi Benayoun.

Villa ended the game the stronger of the 2 teams. Debutant James Milner finding himself with an opportunity to win the hearts of the Villa faithful after Mascherano was unable to clear, only for his effort to prove too weak for Spaniard Pepe Reina.

Martin Laursen almost had the last say when another Young set-piece was met by the towering defender – whos header dropped narrowly wide of the mark. 4 minutes later and Gareth Barry followed in Ashley Young’s footsteps. Planting a free kick directly into the danger zone, all though Dossena was in place to clear and save the point for Liverpool.

It ended a point each; with neither team able to break the deadlock. A game dominated by the defence of both teams, which was verified as Villa centre-back Martin Laursen was crowned man of the match.

Full Time: Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0