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Saturday, August 24, 2013

MAJOGOO WA JIJI LIVERPOOL WAENDELEZA WIMBI LA USHINDI,WAIPIGA ASTON VILLA MOJA BILA


Daniel Sturridge proved Liverpool's match-winner for a second successive weekend as the Merseyside club edged out Aston Villa to make their best start to a Premier League season for five years.
The Birmingham-born striker, who started his youth career with Villa, delivered a moment of pure quality midway through the first half, receiving Jose Enrique's left-wing pass before dancing past two defenders, rounding Brad Guzan and transferring his balance to poke home with his left foot.
It came after the England marksman fired the Reds to a 1-0 opening-day win over Stoke, leaving Brendan Rodgers' side with six points from their first two league games for the first time since 2008.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert reactions
Not a bad finish: Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring for Liverpool in the first-half
Not a bad finish: Daniel Sturridge celebrates scoring for Liverpool in the first-half
Skill: Sturridge rounded Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan to score the opener
Skill: Sturridge rounded Aston Villa keeper Brad Guzan to score the opener


Match facts

Aston Villa: Guzan 6, Lowton 5, (El Ahmadi 65, 6) Okore 6, Vlaar 6, Luna 7; Westwood 7, (Helenius 83) Delph 8, Bacuna 5; Agbonlahor 6, Benteke 6, Weimann 5. (Tonev 73, 5).
Subs: Clark, Steer, Herd, Sylla.
Booked: Luna, Delph, Lowton, Lucas
Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Johnson 6, Toure 7, Agger 7, Enrique 6; Gerrard 7, Lucas 6; Henderson 6, Aspas 6, (Cissokho 68, 6) Coutinho 7; (Allen 83) Sturridge 8.
Subs: Brad Jones, Alberto, Borini, Sterling, Wisdom.
Booked: Johnson, Aspas
Goal: Sturridge 21
Attendance: 42,098
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
Player ratings by Neil Moxley at Villa Park
Liverpool finished second to Manchester United that season and, although that appears unlikely this term, Rodgers can only be delighted with the start his side have made without the suspended Luis Suarez.
For Villa, it was their third game in a tough opening eight days of the new season after victory at Arsenal and defeat at Chelsea, and they appeared off the pace in the opening 40 minutes against a sharper Reds side.
A late flurry at the end of the first half set the tone for a second period in which the hosts dominated and could well have taken a share of the spoils.
Liverpool's new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who saved a late penalty against Stoke, denied the in-form Christian Benteke with a superb one-handed stop.
There was plenty of cause for optimism for a youthful Villa side who have already showed signs of development from the one which struggled against relegation last term, despite failing to keep a Premier League clean sheet for a club-record 25th match.
Villa manager Paul Lambert handed full debuts to summer signings Jores Okore and Leandro Bacuna, while Rodgers kept faith with the starting XI who saw off Stoke.
Both sides looked to feel each other out inside the opening 15 minutes, with the visitors showing the greater incision, although neither goalkeeper was forced into action.
Touch: Christian Benteke keeping the ball away from Daniel Agger
Touch: Christian Benteke keeping the ball away from Daniel Agger

This is Sturridge scoring the winner for Liverpool

Liverpool goal


 


  • TeamP
    1Chelsea26
    2Liverpool26
    3West Ham24
    4Southampton24
    5Man City13
    6Man Utd13
    7Tottenham13
    8Arsenal23
    9Aston Villa33
    10Stoke23
    11Fulham23
    12Hull23
    13Everton22
    14Norwich21
    15Sunderland21
    16West Brom21
    17Newcastle21
    18Crystal Palace20
    19Cardiff10
    20Swansea10
Philippe Coutinho sent an effort high and wide after good work down the left by Enrique as the Reds started to dominate possession during most of the first-half.
And it was no surprise when they made the breakthrough after 21 minutes.
Sturridge started the move before losing his marker, Okore, and when Enrique's pass from the left was dummied by Coutinho on the edge on the area, the former Chelsea striker showed great footwork to evade two defenders as well as Guzan and convert.
The goal only further boosted Liverpool's confidence while the hosts were chasing shadows at times.
With the home faithful becoming slightly frustrated, Bacuna sent Villa's first effort harmlessly wide after 32 minutes before Benteke's control let him down at a crucial moment.
And then with half-time approaching, Villa had two decent openings.
Benteke finally forced Mignolet into action, tipping the Belgium international's effort around a post, before Andreas Weimann saw his shot deflected narrowly over the crossbar.
Lambert's side started the second half with more purpose and, roared on by a sell-out Villa Park crowd, Ashley Westwood twice fired over from distance.
Importantly, however, Mignolet was barely troubled by the time Liverpool boss Rodgers handed a debut to new loan signing Aly Cissokho in the 69th minute.
High foot: Gabriel Agbonlahor gets his boot to the ball ahead of Steven Gerrard
High foot: Gabriel Agbonlahor gets his boot to the ball ahead of Steven Gerrard

Simon Mignolet
Brad Guzan
Keepers: Simon Mignolet punches the air after Sturridge's goal while Guzan comes under pressure from Agger

Benteke and Weimann then headed wide before an unmarked Gabriel Agbonlahor volleyed off target from 12 yards having been presented with a great chance to level.
Matt Lowton finally forced Mignolet into action from long distance before Liverpool's summer signing from Sunderland produced a superb 86th-minute stop to keep out Benteke.
Karim El Ahmadi headed on to fellow substitute Nicklas Helenius and he found Benteke, whose powerful drive was brilliantly pushed around a post by Mignolet - ensuring Villa have now beaten the Reds just once in their last 16 Premier League meetings at Villa Park.
Slide tackle: Kolo Toure comes in with a thundering challenge on Benteke
Slide tackle: Kolo Toure comes in with a thundering challenge on Benteke

Listen! Brendan Rodgers organises his troops
Listen! Brendan Rodgers organises his troops

Making a run of it: Antonio Luna tries to get away from Jordan Henderson
Making a run of it: Antonio Luna tries to get away from Jordan Henderson

Clever: Phillipe Coutinho turns away from Karim El Ahmadi
Clever: Phillipe Coutinho turns away from Karim El Ahmadi

Strength: Sturridge tries to hold off Jores Okore
Strength: Sturridge tries to hold off Jores Okore

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