Filed under: Aston Villa, Liverpool, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Gerard Houllier's return to Anfield was spoiled as his Aston Villa side had precious few answers as Liverpool cruised to a fine victory against their former manager.Houllier left Liverpool in 2004 after six years in charge and received a warm welcome from his former club before the game but that was the last thing he has to smile about all evening as the home side suffered few scares despite missing Fernando Torres.
With Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher already absent for Liverpool, the last thing thing Roy Hodgson needed was more key players missing but Torres could not feature at Anfield because his wife Olalla went into labour earlier in the day.
That meant Hodgson was forced to play second string forwards David Ngog and Ryan Babel but they emphatically proved there is life without the Spainard as they both struck early on to ensure Liverpool enjoyed a comfortable night's work.
After 14 minutes Ngog brilliantly grabbed the first when Raul Meireles' deep corner was nodded back into the danger zone by Martin Skrtel and the French striker headed in from three yards.
The Kop had hardly sat down before Liverpool's fans were celebrating once more as Lucas drifted a fine ball over the top and Babel blasted past Brad Friedel to twist the knife for the home side.
Villa had very little to offer in response as the likes of Stephen Ireland and Marc Albrighton failed to impose themselves on the occasion as Houllier would have liked and Gabriel Agbonlahor barely saw the ball at the business end of the field.
Sotirios Kyrgiakos, in the Liverpool side for Carragher, should have made it 3-0 after 27 minutes when he had a free header at the backpost. The Greek defender is usually lethal with his headers but he steered wide with Friedel's goal at his mercy.
Villa looked more settled and determined after the interval and enjoyed more possession than they had done in the first half but still they lacked that extra bite and the ability to conjure something up out of nothing.
Agbonlahor missed one golden opportunity after 53 minutes as Pepe Reina managed to thwart him six yards out as Liverpool scrambled the ball away.
Liverpool immediately punished the visitors with a third goal as Maxi capitalised on a fine run and pass from Ngog and he slotted into the top corner to emphatically seal the encounter as Villa showed not even half a hint of being able to get back into the occasion.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2010/12/06/liverpool-3-aston-villa-0-houlliers-anfield-return-ruined-by/
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