Aston Villa – Liverpool

1. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0316/christianbentekeceleb20130316_275x155.jpg"><br>Aston Villa will be hoping this man can add to his goals tally as they entertain Liverpool.

2. The team news is out and here it is: there are four changes for Liverpool as Jose Reina, Jamie Carragher, Jordan Henderson and Lucas all come back into the side after the defeat at Southampton.

3. As for Villa, just one change for them as Joe Bennett comes in for Ciaran Clark. Vila come into the game on the back of two straight wins.

4. And they could desperately do with a third straight victory after Wigan's win over Norwich yesterday. They are in the relegation zone on goal difference, and after today will have played a game more.

5. Liverpool can move within two points of Merseyside rivals Everton with a victory and keep up their slim chances of gatecrashing the top four party. Pride must be restored after their south coast surrender.

6. Some pre-match reading to tide you along - <a href="http://espnfc.com/uk/en/preview/345584/preview.html?soccernet=true&cc=5739" target="_blank">here is our preview</a>, <a href="http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/astonvilla/id/593?cc=5739" target="_blank">Kevin Hughes, our Aston Villa blogger, underlines how stopping Suarez is key </a> and <a href="Kevin Hughes" target="_blank">Kristian Walsh, our Liverpool man, takes a similar theme on Christian Benteke</a>.

7. 1'

   <b>KICK OFF</b>

8. 2'

   Downing with an early shot on goal - blocked - then Suarez flagged offside.

9. 3'

   Calm and assured from Liverpool already - Villa not enjoying much time on the ball.

10. 4'

    Bennett with a superb cross that both Benteke and Agbonlahor miss from point blank range. Neither of them anticipated Johnson's air shot at the near post.

11. 5'

    Both Suarez and Coutinho have started very well for Liverpool, who look a threat.

12. 6'

    Johnson drifts infield but can't control Enrique's pass when Suarez was well poised behind him.

13. 7'

    Vlaar shanks a clearance and gifts Liverpool a corner. Took his eye off the ball completely.

14. 8'

    Downing gets a 'warm' reception as he trots over to take it.

15. 9'

    The corner breaks to Suarez who jinks past Bannan but fires over from the edge of the box with the outside of his right boot.

16. 10'

    Lowton tries to clip a ball into Benteke but he was being closely guarded by Carragher and Agger.

17. 11'

    Villa are wobbling here - Bannan loses the ball and Coutinho very nearly fashions a shooting chance.

18. 12'

    An awful pass from Westwood, right out of play for a Liverpool throw in.

19. 13'

    Good football from Villa now as Agbonlahor feeds Wiemann - he finds Benteke and a better touch from the return ball could have had him in on goal. Instead, Villa settle for a corner.

20. 14'

    That's a rare moment of coherence from Villa - it has been all Liverpool so far.

21. 15'

    Coutinho tries to get onto a fine pass from Carragher but the pace on the ball beats him.

22. 16'

    Panic inside Liverpool's box as a free kick ricochets around before Lowton's ball in finds Agbonlahor six yards out but he hits it right at Reina! What a miss!

23. 17'

    Villa have to take their chances when they pop along and they probably won't get a better one than that all afternoon. Agbonlahor had to score.

24. 18'

    Balls into the box are causing Liverpool trouble - another one is hacked away before Bannan's overhit cross is brought clear by Enrique.

25. 19'

    Now Downing puts in a dangerous ball that Vlaar misses - fortunately for Villa, so did Coutinho.

26. 20'

    Johnson cuts the ball cutely into Suarez's path and he fires in a powerful shot that Guzan saves smartly. Corner.

27. 21'

    A warm round of applause in the 19th minute for Stan Petrov, still recovering from leukemia. Lucas brings down Agbonlahor on the pitch.

28. 22'

    Wiemann does well to edge round Agger but his ball in for Agbonlahor, who had got in front of Carragher, was poor.

29. 23'

    A much more even contest now - Liverpool's early promise curtailed.

30. 24'

    Villa pen Liverpool in until Coutinho is released by Enrique. He plays Suarez in and he should shoot with his left but lets it run across him allowing Bennett to nudge him off the ball and disrupt his shot.

31. 25'

    Agbonlahor centres for Benteke but he couldn't climb high enough to meet the cross.

32. 26'

    Henderson does well to pinch the ball as Villa strode forward. Sylla dawdling.

33. 27'

    Enrique gets to the byline but Vlaar clears the cross with Suarez lurking.

34. 28'

    Agbonlahor, unable to score from six yards, tries a shot from 30 yards - doesn't work Reina.

35. 29'

    Carragher trips Benteke after the striker had left him for dead. Lucky not to get carded.

36. 30'

    Gerrard whips the ball off Wiemann's toes before Reina's attempted pass to Coutinho goes out of play.

37. 31'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Benteke scores!

38. 32'

    A fantastic finish as a long ball is touched off to Benteke by Agbonlahor and though Reina got a hand on it he couldn't keep it out.

39. 33'

    Via Opta: Christian Benteke has scored nine goals in his last 11 Premier League appearances, and now has three vs Liverpool this season.

40. 34'

    Baker denies Gerrard who sauntered in on goal from Suarez's flick. Important intervention.

41. 35'

    Liverpool still finding space in which to operate, just not finding the killer pass as yet.

42. 36'

    Suarez, who has faded a little, tries to score from fully 50 yards, provoking much mirth from the home fans.

43. 37'

    Lucas trips Westwood - I make that four fouls from him now. Surely on a tightrope.

44. 38'

    From the free kick Benteke nods across goal and Reina has to scramble for a second to catch it underneath the crossbar.

45. 39'

    Replay shows Carragher with fistfuls of Benteke's shirt from that most recent Villa free kick.

46. 40'

    An aimless cross from Johnson - only Suarez and Coutinho in the box anyway.

47. 41'

    Bannan shanks an awful pass right into Suarez's path and he is clean through on Guzan but the keeper stands up well to block - should be 1-1.

48. 42'

    Downing now crosses for Coutinho - who is never going to beat Baker in the air.

49. 43'

    Enrique feeds Suarez, who is cutting a frustrated figure, and Vlaar concedes another corner.

50. 44'

    What a superb save from Guzan! Gerrard unleashes a powerful, swerving shot and the American sticks out a strong palm to turn it behind.

51. 45'

    <b>HALF TIME</b> - a panicked end to the half from Villa as Liverpool camp on the edge of their box but there is the HT whistle. Paul Lambert will be delighted with that 45, even if they've ridden their luck at times. Crucially, they have something to cling on to.

52. <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0331/christianbentekegoalstrikevliverpool_275x155.jpg"><br>Benteke fires Villa in front

53. Liverpool need a change of approach from wide areas - Downing has hit the byline several times and crossed for the pint-sized Coutinho. Not ideal.

54. A bit of half time reading on Villa's star of the season - <a href="" http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1394364/benteke-staying-villa---agent?cc=5739target="_blank">here's Benteke's agent on why he's 99% sure his man will be at Villa next season</a>.

55. 46'

    We begin again...

56. 47'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Henderson equalises!

57. 48'

    That is a super goal - Coutinho with a slide rule pass to the onrushing Henderson, who finishes with a composure that Suarez lacked for most of the first half, as he dinks over Guzan.

58. 49'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Steven Gerrard is raging - fouling Agbonlahor and giving away a clear free kick and getting a booking to boot.

59. 50'

    Not sure why Gerrard was angry - it was a clear foul and he was booked for his reaction more than anything.

60. 51'

    Via Opta: Philippe Coutinho already has three times as many Premier League assists for Liverpool in six apps as Joe Cole managed in 26

61. 52'

    Agbonlahor fires over the bar from the edge of the box when Sylla was completely free to his right. The crowd howl as his shot enters the stand.

62. 53'

    Much better and brighter from Liverpool this half.

63. 54'

    Lots of space for Johnson to gallop into but he loses possession on the edge of Villa's penalty area.

64. 55'

    Coutinho misses a sitter! Clean through on goal he takes his time and fires past Guzan's post. That is one goal from three one-on-one's for Liverpool now.

65. 56'

    A rally from Villas as two crosses cause Liverpool problems, as they have all day.

66. 57'

    Johnson hits the post! He rifles in an effort that takes a deflection and arcs towards goal until it hits the inside of the post.

67. 58'

    Ten attempts on goal for Liverpool, six for Villa.

68. 59'

    <b>LIVERPOOL PEN</b> - Suarez turns Baker inside the area and that is a ridiculous tackle.

69. 60'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/goal.gif"> <b>GOAL</b> Gerrard converts and Liverpool lead!

70. 61'

    What was Nathan Baker doing there? There was no need to dive in and Suarez knew exactly what he was doing. Clear penalty.

71. 62'

    I think we can expect more goals in this game - Villa have to come out and try to get something now. And they should have equalised immediately! Sylla finds Wiemann unmarked seven yards out and he's blazed over. Oh no.

72. 63'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Villa changes: N'Zogbia and Delph replace Bannan and Wiemann.

73. 64'

    Crosses into the box still the best way for Villa to press and Gerrard clears off the line from a Benteke header brilliantly - arching his back to head away.

74. 65'

    Before that Delph fired in a brilliant volley that was diverted behind for the corner.

75. 67'

    Still hope for Villa though, if they can get the ball wide and get good quality in the box.

76. 68'

    Lowton nearly scores with a mis-hit cross from 45 yards - Reina back peddles to tip over the bar.

77. 69'

    Liverpool coming into their own now as Villa chase the game and their formation becomes ragged.

78. 70'

    Benteke is frustrated as he is penalised for a foul.

79. 71'

    Another Villa change imminent it looks like.

80. 72'

    Very quiet at Villa Park now. The home fans no doubt gnawing their nails.

81. 73'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/images/2013/0331/jordanhendersoncelebvvilla_275x155.jpg"><br> Jordan Henderson levelled for Liverpool

82. 74'

    Liverpool sitting deeper now - Suarez dropping to add extra protection.

83. 75'

    Suarez feeds a darting Enrique but he can't keep the ball in.

84. 77'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/subs.gif"> Sylla departs for Villa and El Ahmadi replaces him. Liverpool make a change too, Coutinho off, Rahim Sterling on.

85. 78'

    Weak first involvement from Sterling after Suarez found him, cutting onto his left and crossing right at Guzan.

86. 79'

    Delph, clumsy at the best of times, fouls Suarez.

87. 80'

    Downing fires a free kick about 20 yards over the bar. Oh dear. Johnny Wilkinson would have been proud of that one.

88. 81'

    That's better from Villa - Agbonlahor puts Carragher under pressure to concede a corner.

89. 82'

    Johnson brings down a long ball and hoofs it out of play down field. Brendan twitches on the sidelines.

90. 83'

    Liverpool creating good angles and passing it better now - Villa need to get stuck in and pressure them. And again, Suarez misses a great chance! He works it himself, nutmegging Baker but Guzan gets a vital hand and Suarez can't recover to find the net.

91. 84'

    I've no idea how Suarez hasn't scored today - he's had about five gilt-edged chances.

92. 85'

    Suarez runs the ball out of play trying to take on Vlaar.

93. 86'

    There's a definite lack of invention about Villa now - Delph gives the ball away this time.

94. 87'

    Lambert tries to rally his troops for one last push.

95. 88'

    Liverpool a threat on the counter now.

96. 89'

    N'Zogbia does well to work some space to cross but his delivery is poor - hitting the first man.

97. 90'

    Three minutes added....

98. 91'

    Benteke leans into Gerrard and gives away a free kick. Not ideal for Villa, who have run out of steam a little.

99. 92'

    <img src="http://soccernet-assets.espn.go.com/design05/gp10/i/yellow_card.jpg" height="15"> Westwood carded for a high tackle on Henderson. Not nice at all.

100. 93'

     Benteke has the ball in the net but the flag is up - and it went up straight away. He was a yard off too. Good call.

101. 94'

     <b>FULL TIME</b> - Villa's good run comes to an end and they will finish the weekend in the relegation zone. They started well and took the lead but goals from Henderson and Gerrard turned it around and moved Liverpool within touching distance of Everton. Wigan, without doubt, the weekend's big winners.

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