Too little too late.
Painful defeat that, will seriously hurt our top 4 hopes. In truth nothing more than we deserved with that defending and Villa's plan worked as they set it up to. Should of been a couple up in that first 25 minutes though and our lack of finishing as much as our shocking defending has cost us.
Raheem is crying out for a rest, he's looking jaded and going back to his old ways of running down a dark tunnel, for god sake give this lad a seat for the next game. It's nothing at all to do with his effort, it's simply too much too soon and you see it is taking a toll on him.
Pepe should of done better for the first, the midfield closing down though was as much at fault, dreadful defending. Their 2nd, the attitude of the likes of Gerrard in slipping and walking back, no closing down and letting them look as good as they did was dreadful, Agger and Downing the main culprits. Glen nearly letting them in for another and then the absolute worst defending I've ever seen watching us, letting a man walk into our box and have a clear shot 6 yards out without getting a meaningful challenge in when he did nothing of any note was embarrassing and Skrtel should be ashamed when he looks back on that, as should Joe Allen. This defending was pathetic and no other words can describe how we dealt with their counters.
Our midfield 3 simply had nowhere near the energy we need, Joe Allen, seriously lad, just passing side to side isn't enough, even more so when you're 3 - 0 down at home. Gerrard, needs dropping it's as simple as that, isn't doing enough for me. Shelvey I thought offered plenty of options, just didn't really have the technique when it came to the crucial moments and Cole / Henderson just didn't have a proper impact while Villa just congested the defence and we ran out of ideas. Glen again showing the others how you create opportunities to shoot for yourself and worry the defence with his offensive runs, Sterling could do well to learn from him.
Very disappointing.
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