Aston Villa, then, was a prediction nightmare: Villa are a team that simultaneously have the ability to exploit our weaknesses, as well as have a defence so incoherent that the likes of Suarez and Coutinho could run through with ease.
Their ability to exploit our ever-present lack of physicality was prominent in the first half. Long lofted passes to Christian Benteke drew our defenders out of position and movement of Villa players around the Belgian caused us problems.
Throughout the first half, in spite of some good opportunities on our part, Villa dominated. The pressure told on the half hour mark as Benteke lashed home after being teed up by Gabby Agbonglahor.
Liverpool’s first-half display was all over the place. Our defensive line was far too deep meaning players were isolated all over the pitch. Our midfield of Gerrard and Lucas (who were just behind Jordan Henderson) looked incoherent and played as if they had no clear instructions. Henderson, as the most advanced midfielder, looked lost in the first half and did not apply forward pressure nor did he supplement the attack effectively.
In the second half, our approach changed: the defence pushed up and we appeared to change to a much more familiar formation. The team naturally manoeuvred with the regular 2 at the back with Lucas sitting in between: Carragher and Agger were quite wide and seemed to man-mark Agbonglahor and Weimann respectively. Benteke who, much like in the first half, seemed to move around the right side, and was tightly marked when long balls came in. As a result, we managed to keep out Villa’s open-play attacks.
The midfield changed from a 2 and a 1 to a 1 and a 2, with Lucas behind Gerrard and Henderson. Gerrard conformed to his typical role, where he sat deep around the right side and sprayed long passes, whilst Henderson played with the forwards.
The converging of Villa’s defence on Luis Suarez in the first half was used to our advantage in the second, where Suarez dropped deep attracting defenders, and hit long passes out wide.
Our change in tactics paid immediate dividends as three minutes into the second half a very direct counter attack was capped coolly by Jordan Henderson.
We continued to dominate the game, and after Gerrard’s 60th minute penalty, we run Villa into the ground, keeping the ball well and playing a slow tempo. It was the first time this season we really saw Rodgers’s idea of resting with the ball practised. It showed the growing character of the team and the confidence in the plan, as we managed to both turn the game around and take the sting out of proceedings – something that we just couldn’t in earlier games.
Villa did cause us some scares in the second half, but only through corners which we dealt with admirably.
In terms of performances, the only player that performed to his best in both halves was Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool stalwart has been indispensable since returning to the starting XI. The entire team picked up in the second period, and notable standouts were Coutinho, Henderson, Johnson and Gerrard.
It was by no means our finest 90, but what this game most definitely showed was our steady progress. The ability to turn games – and performances – around is something that has eluded Liverpool for a few seasons now. The team seems to be growing in confidence and faith in Rodgers’ decisions and philosophy is palpable.
Follow Kerushun on Twitter @_kpil