Liverpool – Aston Villa

1. Can Liverpool close the gap on Manchester United to one point at the top of the table, or will Villa spoil the party and keep pace with Arsenal in the race for Champions League football? It is one of the most important matches of the season and you can follow it live, right here from 16:00 UK time.

2. Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa, Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso, Gerrard, Kuyt, Riera and Torres. Subs from: Cavalieri, Dossena, Hyypia, Agger, Lucas, Ngog and El Zhar.

3. Aston Villa: Friedel, Reo-Coker, Cuellar, Davies, Luke Young, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Heskey and Carew. Subs from: Guzan, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Knight, Salifou, Shorey and Gardner.

4. So, a big, big chance for Liverpool here. Can they exploit Manchester United's mini breakdown? Looks like Villa will be going the aerial route with Carew and Heskey up front. Agbonlahor is on the bench.

5. 1'

   We're off...

6. 2'

   Gerrard's first involvement leads to Liverpool's first corner..

7. 3'

   Villa's first attack sees Heskey afforded oodles of space before laying off to Milner whose shot is deflected behind for a corner.

8. 4'

   Torres turns the ball round the corner for Gerrard who is one-on-one with Cuellar, but as he tries to cut inside the centre back he slips and the chance is gone.

9. 5'

   Barry heads towards Milner who flicks on for Heskey but Reina is out to claim.

10. 6'

    Great tackle from Gazza Barry on Kuyt. He'll be looking to impress today ahead of his move to Anfield in the summer eh?

11. 7'

    Reo-Coker tumbles into Reira and Liverpool have a free kick...

12. 8'

    GOAL! Kuyt!

13. 8'

    Gerrard swings in the corner, Alonso's flick cannons back off the bar and Kuyt smashes a volley into the net. Perfect start for Liverpool.

14. 9'

    Oooh it was nearly two! Alonso heads inside the area for Gerrard who was only four yards out but a few yards wide of the goal and his flick is wide.

15. 10'

    Great chance for Villa! The cross comes in from Young and Barry is unmarked ten yards out but produces a whimpery effort that flies over the bar. Poor.

16. 11'

    A poor ball from Alonso is rescued by Mascherano but the move loses momentum as Davies gets a foot in.

17. 13'

    Carew wins a long punt downfield but no-one can profit from it.

18. 14'

    Cracking ball in from Young is well defended by Carragher.

19. 15'

    Great chance for Gerrard! Reira's deflected cross loops up to an unmarked Gerrard at the far post but he can't wrap his foot round it and hook it into the net.

20. 16'

    Good work from Arbeloa to close down Ashley Young. He's clearly been briefed on what happens if you give the winger time and space.

21. 18'

    Rubbish from Kuyt who underhits a simple ball out wide to Arbeloa who was overlapping.

22. 19'

    Lovely move from Villa involving Young and Milner but the ex-Newcastle man's cross is a yard in front of Carew in the middle.

23. 20'

    Poor cross from Reo-Coker as Villa had men over at the back post.

24. 21'

    Good effort from Carew as Young crosses. He flicks towards goal on the volley and Reina turns it behind for a corner.

25. 22'

    Two decent balls into the box from Milner are well defended by Carragher.

26. 23'

    Gerrard is booked after lunging at Curtis Davies. Terrible tackle, warranted card.

27. 24'

    Arbeloa profits from a fortunate break of the ball after a Luke Young challenge and though he finds Torres in the box it is a weak effort on goal from the Spanish striker.

28. 25'

    Great save from Renia as Carew dominates Skrtel in the box. His header was going in but the 'keeper has earned his corn there.

29. 27'

    Heskey takes a knock after an aerial challenge. How he'd love a goal on his old stomping ground.

30. 29'

    The game has officially hit a bit of a lull...

31. 30'

    Kuyt spots a huge gap in Villa's defence but Davies is across smartly to close him out.

32. 31'

    More aerial danger from Villa as Carew wins the flick on and Heskey lurks. The ball just isn't breaking their way inthe box though.

33. 32'

    A nice twist and turn from Riera as he outfoxes Reo-Coker. No-one is at the back post to meet his cross though.

34. 33'

    GOAL! Riera! Route one!

35. 33'

    Well, an old fashioned goal! Reina boots it downfield, no Villa defender gets anywhere near it and Riera crashes it into the net from 15 yards out.

36. 34'

    Well, that should be that eh? Given how miserly Liverpool's defence has been this season I can't see Villa getting two.

37. 35'

    So nearly three! Gerrard finds space but drags his shot wide of the target.

38. 36'

    Oh my life! What a mistake from Friedel. He hits a pass intended for Luke Young right to Arbeloa inside the box but the defender tries to tee up Torres instead of finishing himself, by which time the cavalry had returned to spare the 'keeper's blushes.

39. 37'

    I hate Andy Gray, Sky's commentator. There, I've said it.

40. 39'

    Penalty! Reo-Coker crashes into Riera and Liverpool can wrap this up before half time.

41. 40'

    Gerrard scores!

42. 41'

    Luke Young is carded after a challenge on Mascherano, who made the absolute most of it. Barry is also booked for dissent. Wheels falling off for Villa.

43. 43'

    Carew does well to hold the ball up and find Milner but the winger's cross is poor.

44. 44'

    Kuyt wins a corner. The second half could be a precession here...

45. 45'

    That's half time and a very impressive 45 minutes from Liverpool. They are heading to within one point of Implode United at the top.

46. 46'

    We begin again..

47. 47'

    Heskey gets another clattering as Agbonlahor warms up.

48. 48'

    Cuellar scythes down Kuyt on the edge of the box and Liverpool have a free kick.

49. 50'

    GOAL! Gerrard!

50. 50'

    A beautiful free kick from Gerrard, who just passed the ball into the far corner after Alonso touched it into his path. Villa getting a good old humping here.

51. 52'

    It's solely a case of salvaging some pride for Villa now after getting a good going over at Anfield.

52. 54'

    I have an inkling the game may peter out into a glorified training session from this point on.

53. 56'

    Another great chance for Liverpool as Kuyt finds Alonso in the area but his shot is tame and wide.

54. 57'

    Heskey is coming off and Agbonlahor is coming on.

55. 58'

    Goal difference could still be important in the title race of course, with Liverpool currently on 28, Chelsea on 32 and Manchester United on 31. Liverpool's about to shoot up to at least 32 one would imagine.

56. 60'

    As predicted, the game has tailed off dramatically in the last ten minutes.

57. 64'

    Oh dear. It goes from bad to worse for Villa, Torres goes clean through and is felled by Friedel, who gets a red card. Penalty, and a chance for Gerrard to notch a hat-trick.

58. 64'

    Reo-Coker is removed as Brad Guzan comes on to go in goal.

59. 65'

    Gerrard scores! 5-0!

60. 66'

    Here come the changes - Alonso is off and Lucas is on.

61. 67'

    Agbonlahor crosses but Careew can't finish it off with Carragher there for company. Corner.

62. 69'

    Nearly six! Riera goes past Milner and cuts it back but Lucas can't get his effort on target.

63. 71'

    The Kop ring out the tunes as Villa wish the ref would take pity on them and blow his whistle.

64. 72'

    Riera wins a corner

65. 73'

    Mascherano wants to get in on the party now - he has a decent pop from 25 yards but Guzan holds on well.

66. 76'

    More changes - Agger comes on and Arbeloa is off.

67. 77'

    Ashley Young wins a corner..

68. 79'

    Pretty glum faces on the VIlla bench as you'd expect as David Ngog prepares to come on.

69. 80'

    Gerrard makes way to a rapturous ovation.

70. 83'

    Ngog tries to feed Torres but the Spaniard had stopped looking for some reason.

71. 84'

    Now Agger tries to feed Torres but he'd strayed offside.

72. 86'

    Ashley Young looks like he can't see the point of carrying on here as he blasts a cross into the stands.

73. 87'

    The Villa fans go nuts as they win a corner. Gallows humour kicking in.

74. 90'

    Three minutes added...

75. 91'

    Craig Gardner gets a yellow for piling in on Agger.

76. 92'

    Ashley Young crosses and Reina saves.

77. 94'

    There it is! A solid thrashing of Villa sees Liverpool cut the gap on Manchester United to one point and improve their goal difference in the process. There could be life in the title race yet. See you next time.

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