Aston Villa fell to a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, as we produced another disappointing performance on the road against a top side.
Having made another poor start where we conceded early, Villa also suffered another injury setback as Diego Carlos was forced off with a problem, and things didn’t get much better thereafter.
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Villa simply weren’t good enough in front of goal as although we created openings, we lacked a clinical edge to our play to make it count, while we looked disorganised and rattled by the pressure put on by Liverpool as we failed to impose ourselves and enjoy a sustained sense of control over the game, as we have done so successfully in other outings this season.
In turn, we go into the international break now with a negative display and result behind us, and we’ll hopefully regroup and respond well against Crystal Palace on September 16.
Aston Villa player ratings vs Liverpool:
Emi Martinez, 6 – Provided a big boost returning to the XI after injury, and while he produced some important saves during the course of the game, there was little he could have done for any of the three goals.
Ezri Konsa, 6 – The most reliable presence at the back whether that was at right-back or in the centre, as he produced some key interventions to keep us in the game at times.
Diego Carlos, N/A – Bitterly disappointing to see him go off with an injury. Hopefully only minor as he was able to walk off the pitch himself, while Emery added after the game that it’s “hopefully not a big injury”.
Pau Torres, 5 – Struggled in this one unfortunately as he was poor in possession and got caught out defensively. While his composure and distribution from the back is crucial for how we want to play, he has to pick his moments better when to bring the ball out and play rather than taking the safer option and retaining the ball with a simple action.
Lucas Digne, 5.5 – Similar to Torres from a defensive perspective as he looked vulnerable throughout, while he offered less going forward in this encounter as he struggled to have the same level of influence on our attacking play.
Matty Cash, 6 – Worked hard and showed good energy to get up and down the right side, while he also showed his versatility to shift into different positions as the game went on. Had a big chance to score at the start of the second half, and that was a pivotal moment in the game in which he needed to be more clinical as the hosts scored their third soon after.
Boubacar Kamara, 5.5 – Didn’t have the same influence as he usually does as he struggled to impose himself in midfield and give us a foothold in the game. Further, Liverpool’s pressure unsettled him and restricted his involvement, and so he’ll need to adapt and improve moving forward in these big games.
Douglas Luiz, 6 – Measured and calm in possession, and played some excellent passes with a switch of play to create openings for us. However, as with the midfield unit as a whole, we didn’t have sustained control over proceedings like we wanted to, and that started in the midfield battle with our quartet coming up short.
John McGinn, 5.5 – When the Villa captain struggles, we tend to struggle as a team. Was far too quiet at Anfield in both phases of the game, as whether it’s a strong challenge to stamp our authority on proceedings, or finding pockets of space and causing the opposition problems defensively, we didn’t see anywhere near enough of that from him on this occasion.
Moussa Diaby, 6 – Looked lively with his movement and touch to create openings in the final third, but lacked that crucial end product to give us a decisive impact.
Ollie Watkins, 5 – Work-rate can’t be questioned, but his hold-up and link-up play wasn’t accurate enough on Sunday as he didn’t retain possession well enough. Further, a very limited attacking threat in a game where we expected to cause Liverpool’s backline a lot of problems. Disappointing outing.
Substitutes:
Leon Bailey, 5.5 – Harsh to be substituted after coming on himself, but at that point, Emery was experimenting with different solutions as the game had gone. Looked positive and had an impact, but no clinical edge to his play as he missed a big opportunity in the first half.
Nicolo Zaniolo, 6 – A really positive showing off the bench as he was bright on the ball with his driving runs forward. Hopefully a bigger role for him ahead after the international break.
Youri Tielemans, 6 – Composed and calm in possession as he ticked things over in midfield in the latter stages and gave us a bit more control even though the game had already got away from us.
Jhon Duran, 6 – Looked to make an impression as he was direct and ambitious, but his decision-making wasn’t always the best.
