Players Need To Remember Liverpool (H) 09/10

Full credit to Villa, the lads played well and didn't deserve that at all!

I think we can all agree that we couldn't ask for too much more from the players after that performance because they did everything right and played very, very well.

The only point some people could make is that when we were leading 1-0 at around 65 minutes gone you would have liked an experienced manager (Gerard Houllier) to make a change to tighten things up in midfield and defensively but it was Kevin MacDonald giving out the orders today and I think that was the only fault of Villa today, that Houllier wasn't there but not a lot could have been done about that.

We were beaten by a last second strike when we deserved something from the game, but that was also the case last year at home to Liverpool. Playing in the snow, we all remember it, we battled for 90 minutes creating some good chances in the tough conditions and the boys put their bodies on the line defending.

We nearly had a more than deserved point, only for Fernando Torres to pick up on an unlucky bounce and finish us off with seconds to spare. But look at what happened next: FA Cup - Blackburn Rovers (H) - 3-1 Win Carling Cup - Blackburn Rovers (A) - 1-0 Win Prem - West Ham (H) - 0-0 Draw Carling Cup - Blackburn (H) - 6-4 Win FA Cup - Brighton (H) - 3-2 Win Prem - Arsenal (H) - 0-0 Draw Prem - Fulham (A) - 2-0 Win Prem - Tottenham (A) - 0-0 Draw Prem - Man Utd (H) - 1-1 Draw FA Cup - Palace (A) - 2-2 Draw Prem - Burnley (H) - 5-2 Win FA Cup - Palace (H) - 3-1 Win A 12 game unbeaten streak which ended at Wembley in the League Cup final to Utd.

It shows the character the team has to bounce back from major set backs. This is still the same squad and I'm sure Houllier, MacDonald and the covering staff will lift the team ready to face a Gary Cahill less Bolton at the weekend.

We didn't deserve to lose, in fact, with Pennant diving to get that free kick in the first place we shouldn't have lost but full credit to the players; they played well again. And with a similar performance like that against Bolton then we will pick up 3 points.

We've bounced back from worse but like Houllier said, success will take time. It's a long season and I think we would all be happy with a finish between 7th and 5th. Well done to the players! Especially Albrighton, Friedel, Collins and Downing. The only thing we need to change is to book a flight for Mr Houllier to get him back to England and get his season rolling asap! UTV!

With thanks to: astvil123

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.