Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 0

Last updated : 18 March 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Aston Villa failed dismally against Liverpool to improve their poor recent record which has seen them win just two of their last 18 league games.

The two successes were against bottom clubs, Watford and West Ham United, which gives a fair indication of Villa's present form.

Neither side appeared capable of winning a game in which there were very few goal opportunities.

Liverpool, on the back of their Champions League success over Barcelona, were well below form and never hit any high notes as they consolidated their fourth in the table position.

Without a home win over Liverpool since 1998, Villa's low-key performance failed to inspire much confidence for the future.

Facing a Liverpool side that also struggled to capture their best form, Villa should have put together a more convincing performance.

But they operated with Gabby Agbonlahor and Ashley Young wide on the wings and this played into Liverpool's hands as the Midlanders were unable to generate much strength in attack.

Newcomer John Carew was ineffective as he lacked support and consequently caused few problems to either Jamie Carragher or Daniel Agger.

Villa's problems can be observed from recent performances when they have scored just three goals in six games since the arrival of Carew and Young.

Liverpool surprisingly could not take advantage of Villa's average performance. They were promising in the early stages with John Arne Riise and Dirk Kuyt both testing Thomas Sorensen but this threat also failed to be maintained.

Villa's lack of drive prevented them lifting their game and the nearest they came to a goal in a dire first half occurred a minute before the break when Steve Finnan appeared to impede Stiliyan Petrov.

Referee Lee Mason was in close attendance and declined to uphold Villa's appeals for a penalty.

The strong, swirling wind did little to help the general play but neither side cut much of an impression.

Reds skipper Steven Gerrard was surprisingly subdued, while the threat of Craig Bellamy was nullified by the ever improving Gary Cahill who has been one of the success stories at Villa Park this season.

Liverpool eventually sent on Jermaine Pennant in place of Bellamy, while Villa drafted in Patrik Berger for the out of form Young in their bid to generate more positive play in the last 15 minutes of a poor encounter.

Pennant provided Liverpool's best chance with a cross which Robbie Fowler headed goalwards from close range only for Sorensen to push the ball away near the base of the post.

But the game continued to drift to its inevitable conclusion with Berger carelessly blasting a long-range shot high over the bar and then shooting wide to produce a fitting conclusion to a poor game.