Both Manchester United and Chelsea dropped valuable points on Saturday, losing their respective fixtures and there by giving some room for Liverpool to take advantage of their loses and close the gap with ManU. Liverpool took on Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday and winning this match would heat up the race for the Premier League Trophy. Villa who are desperate to secure a Champions League spot this season had to take complete 3 points from the game because only a win would ensure that they close the gap on Arsenal.
Liverpool Manager Rafa Benitez had put out a very strong Liverpool squad,with Torres leading upfront. Rafa Benitez had also signed a new 5 year contract with 'The Reds',saying that his heart was with Liverpool. Both teams emerged from the narrow tunnel at Anfield, the Liverpool players touching the "This is Anfield" logo posted just before the entrance. Gareth Barry led Villa,adorning the captains arm-band and the whole of Villa squad in their blue away kits. The first half was an absolute cracker. Liverpool got their first goal in the first 20 minutes. Steve Gee's free k
ick was flicked (by head)by Alonso, the ball then struck the woodwork and bounced in front of Kuyt,who smashed the ball right into the bottom corner of the net,giving Liverpool an early lead and affecting Villa psychologically. Villa threatened to equalise when Carew flicked the ball but Reina's reflexes were superb,thereby denying Carew the goal. Liverpool would have gone up 2-0 in the next couple of minutes when Reira's cross was put just wide by Steve Gee. Liverpool were hungry for more goals and after their recent successes with Real Madrid and ManU, scoring 4 goals in each match they were in no mood to settle for just one goal. Reina goal kick which bounced a couple of yards before the Villa goal box was superbly controlled by Reira and smashed into the top corner,giving Brad Friedel no chance to make a save. Kudos to Reira as he took the kick with great control even when he was under tremendous pressure from the Villa defender Luke Young. Liverpool now were 2-0 up, adding more salt to ManU's wounds. Just before half time Liverpool got an opportunity to make it 3-0 when Riera was fouled inside the box by Reo Coker who was playing the right back position for Villa,not the position he normally plays. Captain courageous stepped up to take the spot kick. Steve Gee had previously converted penalties successfully against Manu and Real Madrid. In this match also he made no mistake, putting aside any chances of Villa bouncing back into the game. Both the teams went into half time with Liverpool leading the way with 3 goals.
ick was flicked (by head)by Alonso, the ball then struck the woodwork and bounced in front of Kuyt,who smashed the ball right into the bottom corner of the net,giving Liverpool an early lead and affecting Villa psychologically. Villa threatened to equalise when Carew flicked the ball but Reina's reflexes were superb,thereby denying Carew the goal. Liverpool would have gone up 2-0 in the next couple of minutes when Reira's cross was put just wide by Steve Gee. Liverpool were hungry for more goals and after their recent successes with Real Madrid and ManU, scoring 4 goals in each match they were in no mood to settle for just one goal. Reina goal kick which bounced a couple of yards before the Villa goal box was superbly controlled by Reira and smashed into the top corner,giving Brad Friedel no chance to make a save. Kudos to Reira as he took the kick with great control even when he was under tremendous pressure from the Villa defender Luke Young. Liverpool now were 2-0 up, adding more salt to ManU's wounds. Just before half time Liverpool got an opportunity to make it 3-0 when Riera was fouled inside the box by Reo Coker who was playing the right back position for Villa,not the position he normally plays. Captain courageous stepped up to take the spot kick. Steve Gee had previously converted penalties successfully against Manu and Real Madrid. In this match also he made no mistake, putting aside any chances of Villa bouncing back into the game. Both the teams went into half time with Liverpool leading the way with 3 goals.The second half started with Liverpool doing the kick-off. Liverpool were passing the ball with much ease and confidence and keeping the lion's share of the possession. Villa's Barry and Ashley Young tried hard to salvage something in the first ten minutes of the second half but of no avail. Liverpool got a free kick just outside the box, Captain courageous stepping up to take it. The pace with which the ball was drilled into the bottom corner was so much that Brad Friedel couldn't stop it. Liverpool now were leading Villa by 4 goals to nil. Steve Gee also had a great chance to get his hat-trick if Rafa didn't substitute him. Rafa could ahve easily substituted his top players after the first half and still could have won the match but he thought otherwise. The final nail in the coffin was drilled when Torres was thought to be pulled down by Brad Friedel inside the box but Torres actually tripped over Friedel's shoulder and fell. A penalty kick was awarded but to add to Villa's misery Friedel was shown a straight red card. Villa were shell shocked by this decision. This is an example when things go wrong for you through out the game. Gerrard stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball past the goal keeper, the goal keeper falling on the other side. Gerrard thus got his hat-trick this season. he has now scored 30 goals in all competitions this season.
The stadium was chanting the Liverpool Anthem, pumping spirit into the players and giving them confidence that this year they could go all the way to win the Premiere league. Liverpool won comprehensively and closed the gap on ManU to just 1 point but ManU still have a game in hand. The title race this season could go either way. Will Liverpool's wait for 18 years finally pay off? Only time will tell this.
Go Liverpool!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment