Source: SKY_Sports
O'Neill praises in-form Reds
Martin O'Neill admitted that his side were beaten by an 'exceptional' Liverpool side after they crashed to a 5-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday.[LNB] The Aston Villa boss added that although their opponents were superior his side had contributed to their own downfall.[LNB]A Steven Gerrard hat-trick and goals from Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera compounded Villa's misery as they slipped three points behind Arsenal in the race for fourth spot.[LNB]O'Neill will have to make do without first choice goalkeeper Brad Friedel when his side travel to Manchester United next time out after he conceded a penalty and was sent off for bringing down Fernando Torres in the area with the score at 4-0.[LNB]"We were well beaten by an exceptional Liverpool side," he said.[LNB]"But we did contribute to our own downfall. At 1-0 down, we gave away an unbelievably bad goal. It was a shocking mistake.[LNB]"Liverpool have had two remarkable results before this game, beating Real Madrid and Manchester United - and they certainly did not need any help from us to achieve what they wanted."[LNB]The former Leicester and Celtic boss confirmed that his side played poorly but was confident that they could get back on track sooner rather than later.[LNB]"We played poorly. We gave away some lousy goals and we have to get back on track," he highlighted.[LNB]"We were doing fine four or five weeks ago, but we were well beaten by a better side. But we are a better side than we showed in this game."[LNB]
