Source: Team_Talk
Friedel pleased to make amends
Villa ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home Premier League record with a deserved victory. They were two ahead at half-time through a Lucas own goal and a Curtis Davies header seconds from the break.[LNB]Fernando Torres pulled one back from close range, but an Ashley Young penalty soon after claimed the Midlanders' first win at Anfield since 2001.[LNB]Following an opening-day home defeat by Wigan, Friedel said on ESPN: "It was the right time for us, we'd been getting a few bullets in the press lately and didn't have a good start. But to come here and win, no matter how we did it, was fantastic.[LNB]"Liverpool are a great side, we knew we'd be under the cosh. In the first half we played a bit more, in the second we were under siege and the penalty came at the perfect time.[LNB]"It has got us off the mark and to win at Anfield is fantastic. With the result last year it does leave a bad taste in the mouth.[LNB]"It's not revenge but it's pleasing to put in a performance because last year we just didn't turn up."[LNB]Goalscorer Davies said: "Sometimes you think it's a bit too early (to go ahead) because they have got the whole second half to throw themselves at you but we held out, they got a goal but we got one straight after. It was perfect timing.[LNB]"I'm not renowned for scoring. I wasn't going to go up for it but luckily it fell onto my head and I was happy to get the goal.[LNB]"Obviously I would have been happier with a clean sheet but we'll take it."[LNB]Villa boss Martin O'Neill told ESPN: "I'm delighted with the performance, I couldn't be more pleased.[LNB]"We put absolutely everything into the game, not just effort but skill and ability.[LNB]"We had a sluggish start on the opening day and to come and win here against maybe one of the championship favourites was a terrific effort.[LNB]"At 2-0 we seemed in reasonable command of the game, it goes to 2-1 and so we had to react pretty quickly. We got a goal through the penalty - and it was a penalty - and got ourselves back in again. We deserved to win."[LNB]Reds boss Rafael Benitez was left to lament mistakes at "crucial times".[LNB]"It was a frustrating night because we started well and had our chances," he told ESPN. "But we didn't take them, we made one mistake, then in the last minute of the first half another, and when we were on top of them and scored our first goal we made another mistake.[LNB]"Important mistakes at crucial times.[LNB]"When we scored, everything could have been different but there was another mistake and again we needed two goals."[LNB][LNB]
