Liverpool have been very successful at Villa Park in recent years, they won four consecutive games there and hoped for another one against relegation-threatened Aston Villa. The hosts needed a win badly, and only three points could slightly relieve the horrific situation of the club.
However, it started awfully for the hosts. Liverpool dominated from the first whistle and easily controlled the ball. Coutinho’s perfect cross from the left found Daniel Sturridge, and the striker gave a 0:1 lead to the visitors with composed header. That was Sturridge’s first Premier League goal after a long time, and his presence was immediately felted in Klopp’s squad. Liverpool missed him greatly. It was the 16th minute.
Only nine minutes later, James Milner scored a goal from a direct free-kick, but he certainly didn’t mean to. The made to be the cross from the left flank sailed right into the net behind unlucky Bunn, and nobody touched it. Aston Villa failed to attempt a shot on target and Mignolet had a little work to do in the first half.
It was a pretty much the same story in the second half, Aston Villa had a big trouble create something and Liverpool pressed well and waited the chance on the counter. After a lost possession in the midfield, Firmino took the ball and found Emre Can, who scored a well-placed goal from the edge of the box. That was a first goal for the German in the BPL this season. At that point, it was clear that Villa should look for the points elsewhere. Jurgen Klopp decided to take out Sturridge because the game was already over and Divock Origi came in. In the very next attack, the young Belgian scored a goal after another Villa’s mistake and the nice assist from Coutinho. It was 0:4 with around half an hour more to be played. Only two minutes later, Nathaniel Clyne scored his first Premier League goal for the club. He took the advantage of the poor Villa’s defense and scored a poacher’s goal after serious disarray in the box.
A youngster Kevin Stewart made his debut in the EPL when he substituted Phil Coutinho on the 66th minute. An academy graduated midfielder has a bright future ahead of him, and Klopp was impressed with his maturity in the FA and League Cup games last month. Travelling Liverpool fans were delighted when Kolo Toure scored his first goal for the Reds. Former Arsenal and Man City defender left unmarked after Henderson’s corner and scored a header for a final result, 0:6.
It was the Aston Villa’s biggest defeat at home in the last 81 years, and it looks like they will play Championship football next season. Liverpool will host Man City in the next round, and with an eventual win can close the gap between them to only six points. Let’s remind, man city is currently sitting in the fourth place that leads to the Champions League.
