Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 2: Soft Suarez penalty award earns Reds comeback point
Was it a penalty?
Brad Guzan @BradGuzan
'Good result @ a tough place,the boys put in a great shift & thought it was a soft decision.dont think I touched him but that's football!'
Gary Lineker @GaryLineker
'Much debate as to whether Suarez dived. Any striker knows in that position, if he can nudge it past on rushing keeper, he'll be fouled....'
'It's clearly making the most of a keeper's recklessness and completely different to diving with no contact. Playing for pen? Yes. Diving? No'
A controversial penalty won by the artful Luis Suarez spared the blushes of Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers in front of his American bosses.
The sly Uruguayan collapsed after the faintest of brushes against Brad Guzan, though the Villa keeper almost invited his fate when he dived at Suarez’s feet but was beaten to the ball.
With the second half still young, Steven Gerrard completed the Liverpool comeback from two goals down by converting the penalty, although their dreadful disintegration before the interval suggested Rodgers had picked the wrong team at Anfield.
VIDEO Scroll down to watch the post-match reactions of Rodgers and Lambert
Falling down: Luis Suarez goes down to win a penalty for Liverpool, who were trailing 2-0
From the spot: Steven Gerrard converted the penalty to make it 2-2
Wry smile: Replays showed there was minimal contact between Suarez and Brad Guzan
Dropped points: Aston Villa had been leading 2-0 after an excellent first-half performance
MATCH FACTS
LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 6: Johnson 6, Toure 5, Skrtel 7, Cissokho 5: Sterling 6, Gerrard 6, Henderson 8, Coutinho 5 (Lucas 46, 6 (Allen 66, 6)): Sturridge 6, Suarez 7
Subs not used: Jones, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas, Moses, Kelly.
Goals: Sturridge 45, Gerrard pen 53.
ASTON VILLA: Guzan 6: Bacuna 7, Vlaar 7, Clark 7, Bertrand 6 (Luna 81); Weimann 7, El Ahmadi 7 (Sylla 64, 6), Westwood 7, Agbonlahor 8 (Holt 49, 6), Benteke 8, Delph 7
Subs not used: Helenius, Albrighton, Steer, Gardner.
Booked: Clarke, El Ahmadi, Bertrand, Bacuna.
Goals: Weimann 26, Benteke 36.
Ref: Jonathan Moss.
Att: 44,737.
*Player ratings by Dominic King at Anfield
‘If you want to blame me, then blame me,’ he said, though he had defended himself by saying: ‘I go with my gut feeling. I thought it was an offensive team.’
As Rodgers knows better than most, a team can often be far more attacking with a stable midfield platform than if you pepper it with supposed showmen.
Rodgers picked the attacking Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling, even though he had Daniel Sturridge and Suarez up front. It was a gamble which failed dramatically.
Gerrard, who is not a natural holding midfielder whatever Rodgers might say, formed a rickety central pairing alongside Jordan Henderson, and Villa counter-attacked at will.
‘In the first half we should have been out of sight, three up,’ observed Villa manager Paul Lambert fairly.
Gabriel Agbonlahor could have scored after a minute and Ciaran Clark cracked a powerful header against the post but, not long after, Liverpool did fall behind.
Ryan Bertrand, on loan from Chelsea and ‘fantastic’ on his debut, according to Lambert, robbed Suarez and set a lightning counter-attack in motion. Christian Benteke helped release Agbonlahor, Andreas Weimann arrived in the middle and Liverpool were behind in 25 minutes.
Surprise: Andreas Weimann celebrates after making it 1-0 to Aston Villa
Opener: The Austrian is mobbed after scoring the opening goal
Comeback: Daniel Sturridge sparked Liverpool's comeback scoring just on the stroke of half-time
Cameo: Lucas was substituted just 20mins after coming on as a substitute
Agbonlahor — described as ‘unplayable’ by Lambert — caused more chaos before Rodgers’ men could find any momentum. His cross baffled Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet, who tipped it away from defender Glen Johnson’s head and on to that of Benteke. Two goals ahead, Villa were in control.
Liverpool’s principal owner, John Henry, and chairman Tom Werner probably did not know what to make of the chaos. They had met Rodgers the night before and emphasised transfer money was available.
There might be more urgency to spend it now, with left-back and midfield requiring further strengthening.
However, the escape from humiliation began just before the break with what Rodgers described as ‘the first sequence of passing’ his team had managed all evening.
Suarez began it, Henderson broke open Villa’s defence with a sweet flick, and Sturridge did the rest.
Suddenly the tide had started to turn. There was only a goal in it and Villa lost much of their threat when Agbonlahor went off with a sore foot.
From our Match Zone: Andreas Weimann adds the finishing touch to a simple Aston Villa move
Shield: Benteke keeps the ball from Aly Cissokho and Philippe Coutinho
Nowhere to go: Suarez dribbles away from Villa's Ron Vlaar
Rodgers replaced Coutinho at half-time with the man who surely should have started — the destructive Lucas. And, although Lucas then had to be replaced by another holding midfielder in Joe Allen, Gerrard was given the licence to pour forward.
It was his pass which released Suarez down the left and gave the South American master of dark football arts the chance to win that penalty.
Suarez might even have scored the winner, but his pacy, curling free-kick drifted just wide as Guzan scrambled helplessly.
As time wound down, Sturridge escaped punishment after appearing to lash out at Villa’s Dutch defender Leandro Bacuna.
Villa fought like lions and deserved a point, which might ignite a more consistent streak in a troubled season.
Taking a tumble: Gabby Agbonlahor goes hurtling over the advertising hoarding
Hard landing: The striker ends up falling on his back
No sympathy: This fan decides to take a picture rather than stop and help
In the eye: Suarez reacts to a finger in the face from Ciaran Clark
‘It wasn’t a penalty,’ said Lambert after viewing the tape. ‘Brad was trying to pull his hands away.’
Whether that is true or not, Suarez only had to make contact with the keeper and fall to secure the draw.
Rodgers insisted: ‘It was a penalty, the keeper makes contact with Luis, though, from Paul’s perspective he will feel it was a bit harsh.’
The penalty served only to mask the fact that Rodgers got it wrong tactically.
Nobody is perfect, but he cannot afford many more slip-ups like this if Liverpool are to hold off their fellow contenders for that fourth Champions League spot.
Perhaps the chaos was a blessing in disguise if it causes Rodgers to focus more on his transfer targets.
Close call: Cissokho is challenged by Karim El Ahmadi under the noses of Paul Lambert and Brendan Rodgers
Clipped: Raheem Sterling is tripped by Villa midfielder Fabian Delph
Rare visit: Liverpool owner John Henry was at Anfield to watch the match
Most watched Sport videos
- Stirring moment fans chant U-S-A at Sugar Bowl after NOLA terror attack
- Angel Reese flaunts her New Year's Eve gown in playful video
- John Daly hits golf ball across street and over building for 2025
- Caitlin Clark leaves Travis Kelce beaming with review of Eras Tour
- Hit in Texas-Arizona football game fails to be labelled as targeting
- Saints coach Darren Rizzi responds to the New Orleans attack
- NFL fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk announces MAJOR career move
- Dyche responds to Maupay taking shots at Everton on social media
- ESPN cameras catch Jake Bates doing 'freaky' act on national TV
- Arteta says Arsenal in 'good mood' following win against Brentford
- Louisiana official says ATF team is ready for Sugar Bowl
- James Brayshaw opens up about his divorce in on-air outburst
