Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish celebrated his first
league win as a manager at Villa Park as first-half
goals from Craig Bellamy and Martin Skrtel ensured a
comfortable victory over Alex McLeish's side.
Bellamy and Skrtel struck inside the first 15 minutes
to seal the Reds' fifth away win in the Premier League
this season, but the star of the show was striker Luis
Suarez, who tormented the Villa defence and hit the
bar and the post.
Former Villa winger Stewart Downing was booed by the
home fans after his £20 million summer move but
he and Craig Bellamy caused problems down both flanks.
Villa missed the forward duo of suspended Gabriel Agbonlahor
and injured Darren Bent and seldom looked like breaching
what is the tightest defence in the Premier League with
just 13 goals conceded.
But they were also guilty of frequently giving the
ball away and only skipper Stiliyan Petrov had composure
in midfield.
Villa started promisingly and Petrov curled a free-kick
past the defensive wall and forced Pepe Reina to save
away to his right.
Downing managed Liverpool's first effort on goal following
a cross-field ball from Bellamy when he forced Brad
Guzan to save at the foot of the post.
Then after 11 minutes Downing played a part in Bellamy
giving Liverpool the lead.
His corner found Suarez inside the box and a back heel
forced a fine instinctive save out of Guzan but Bellamy
reacted first to the rebound for a simple tap-in.
Villa winger Charles N'Zogbia was yellow-carded for
bringing down Glen Johnson two minutes later.
After 15 minutes Liverpool doubled their lead through
Skrtel - and from another corner.
Villa failed to pick up the central defender as he
attacked a Bellamy cross and his glancing header flew
past Guzan.
Villa tried to counter-attack and Nathan Delfouneso
had a 20-yard shot deflected wide and a long-range attempt
from N'Zogbia was just off-target.
Delfouneso teed up the over-lapping N'Zogbia whose
shot contained plenty of power but flew into the side-netting.
Charlie Adam was booked after 28 minutes for bringing
down Emile Heskey.
Two minutes later Bellamy was yellow-carded for fouling
Alan Hutton to the right of the Liverpool box.
But Delfouneso could not keep his header down from
Albrighton's free-kick.
Villa were trying to get a foothold in the game but
Liverpool continued to look more dangerous and Richard
Dunne blocked a first-time attempt from Shelvey after
he ran on to Suarez's pass.
Liverpool began the second half on the offensive and
twice went close to adding to their lead.
Bellamy's pace took him clear of the Villa defence
down the left flank and his cross was headed wide by
Daniel Agger.
Then Suarez showed sublime skill in evading the challenges
of Dunne and James Collins and from 10 yards out he
crashed his shot against the bar.
Villa were giving the ball away too easily and a mistake
by Stephen Warnock allowed Johnson time to line up a
shot which was turned aside by Guzan.
Reina was forced into a rare save in getting his body
behind a low effort from N'Zogbia.
But Suarez was denied by the woodwork again after chipping
Guzan following a pinpoint 40 yard ball from Downing.
Guzan turned aside Shelvey's cross-shot and Adam had
shot deflected wide when Shelvey was unmarked 10 yards
out to his left.
Dalglish brought on Andy Carroll after 74 minutes for
Suarez who was given a standing ovation by the Liverpool
fans.
Villa substitute Barry Bannan appealed in vain for
handball when his shot struck Agger and flew out for
a corner.
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