Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0: Child's play at Anfield on torrid return for Houllier
Fortunately for Roy Hodgson, Liverpool's players had much the same idea as Se? Torres last night. The wife of the club's principal striker appeared to think it was a good time to deliver and so did they. [LNB]A loss to Gerard Houllier would have been hard to stomach for Hodgson on the Frenchman's first professional return to Anfield since his departure in 2004. It was probably hard enough listening to the Kop sing his good friend's name when they have yet to acknowledge Hodgson in such a manner. [LNB]But a defeat by a predecessor who is remembered so fondly by the fans would have made Hodgson's position all the more precarious and the fact that his side instead rose to their highest league position of the season would have been most welcome. [LNB] Head start: David Ngog's header got Liverpool off to a perfect start to make it 1-0[LNB] [LNB]It was all the more impressive because this fine win was achieved without Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher as well as the otherwise engaged Fernando Torres, whose wife went into hospital an hour before kick-off. Indeed, the 90 minutes of labour they produced amounted to quite a performance. [LNB]MATCH FACTSLIVERPOOL (4-4-1-1): Reina 6; Johnson 7, Skrtel 7 Kyrgiakos 7 (Kelly 82min),Konchesky 6; Kuyt 7 (Cole 79), Meireles 7, Lucas 8, Maxi 6 (Aurelio 76); Ngog 7;Babel 7. Subs not used: Jones, Jovanovic, Poulsen, Shelvey.[LNB]ASTON VILLA (4-4-1-1): Friedel 5; Young 5, Dunne 4, Collins 4, Warnock 5; Clark 5(Delfouneso 46, 5), Ireland 5, Hogg 6,Downing 5; Albrighton 5 (Pires 65, 5);Agbonlahor 5 (Carew 66, 5). Subs not used: Guzan, Cuellar, Lichaj, Herd. Booked: Clark.[LNB]Man of the match: Lucas.Referee: Phil Dowd. [LNB]Liverpool were terrific, with David Ngog, Ryan Babel and Maxi Rodriguez providing the goals and Lucas and Raul Meireles a masterclass in midfield. Add to that a 100th league clean sheet for Pepe Reina, beating Ray Clemence's record by 19 games, and the Spanish goalkeeper was leading the singing to a Gypsy Kings track in the dressing room after the game. [LNB]They were helped, of course, by the ineptitude of Villa's defending, whi le the absence of Nigel Reo-Coker, Stiliyan Petrov and Ashley Young enabled Lucas and his col leagues to dominate midfield. [LNB]But this remained a night worthy of celebration, not least for those who seized the chance to shine while their more illustrious teammates were elsewhere. As well as Lucas there was some fine attacking football from Ngog and Babel, who looked like quite a partnership. [LNB]For Houllier, it was rather more depressing. His appearance was met with real warmth here last night. There was a standing ovation from the supporters and a banner that was extended across the face of the Kop. 'Gerard's heart beats', it said. [LNB]Houllier said later: 'I was extremelytouched by the reception. If I have got to lose 3-0, I would prefer it to be to them as I like Liverpool, but I am Aston Villa manager now.' [LNB] Double trouble: Ryan Babel watches his strike sail in for Liverpool's second in quick succession[LNB]When he stepped into the technical area he once graced with such distinction, Houllier was all smiles. But that soon became a grimace, as two goals inside the first 16 minutes anda third 10 minutes after the break left him to reflect on a run that has seen Villa secure only one league win in eight. [LNB]The reception from 11 players who never actually worked under Houllier was as icy as the conditions that persuaded Maxi and Reina to wear snoods. [LNB]Villa's manager had already seen Dirk Kuyt threaten with a half-volley before his side's abject failure to defend a corner from Meireles led to Liverpool's opening goal.[LNB] [LNB] Hold up: Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor could find no way past Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel[LNB] [LNB]It was disappointing enough to see Martin Skrtel meet the ball virtually unopposed outside the area, but the ease with which Ngog then diverted it past Brad Friedel would have been really galling for Houllier. [LNB]What followed was even more depressing for the Frenchman, since it was from an offside position thatBabel seized on the ball from Lucas before driving a terrific finish beyond the grasp of a diving Friedel. [LNB] Three and easy: Maxi Rodriguez' celebrated Liverpool's third to wrap up the win[LNB] [LNB]At that stage Villa had offered little in return. They had threatened briefly when Stewart Downing delivered a cross that Marc Albrighton met with an effort that drifted wide but that was about the best of it. Stephen Ireland continues to look like a shadow of the player who once shone at Manchester City. [LNB]After the break Gabriel Agbonlahor had an effort blocked by Reina before Paul Konchesky cleared. It proved acostly miss, with Maxi increasing Liverpool's advantage. Ngog raced down the left flank before delivering a ball that Maxi met first time with a super shot. [LNB] Kop that: Houllier was afforded a warm reception from Liverpool fans on his Anfield return but his Aston Villa side were poor in defeat[LNB] Houllier sent on Robert Pires as wellas John Carew and Nathan Delfouneso. But it was Liverpool who went closest to scoring again, with a showboating Glen Johnson twice going close. [LNB]All that was left was an update from the hospital - they were still waiting when Hodgson appeared for the post -match press conference - and a chance to celebrate Reina's 100 clean sheets. He has certainly delivered. [LNB] Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0: How the action unfolded at AnfieldEXCLUSIVE: Kop shop! Liverpool line up £10m deal for teenage ace WickhamBlackburn, Tottenham and Liverpool keep tabs on Russia ace PogrebnyakLIVERPOOL FC
