Liverpool fans have reacted with a mixture of disappointment and anger after seeing their side go down 1-0 to Aston Villa in the Premier League at Anfield on Sunday.
After leaking a scruffy early goal to Gabriel Agbonlahor, Liverpool never got out of first gear, playing a seemingly very negative and deep style of football that never penetrated the visitors.
Aston Villa‘s defence held strong, frustrating Mario Balotelli up front, who was handed no favours by referee Lee Mason as Liverpool’s uninspiring performance petered out towards the final whistle.
Even the late introduction of Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini into the game, which followed Raheem Sterling’s second-half substitution, could not inspire a way through Villa’s strong defence.
It was a worrying indication of a side coming to Anfield, reading Liverpool’s game plan and executing the perfect performance to unsettle the Reds — very similar to the tactics employed by Chelsea in their 2-0 win at Anfield at the back end of 2013/14.
Time to bounce back starts now!!!!
— Raheem Sterling (@sterling7) September 14, 2014
Liverpool must react immediately with Bulgarian side Ludogorets coming to Anfield on Tuesday for the opening Champions League match of the season, before a Premier League trip to West Ham next Saturday, 20th September.
Here, we round up a mixture of tweets from Liverpool fans following the game and reaction in our Liverpool FC Forums.
Let us know your thoughts on Liverpool 0-1 Aston Villa, where it went wrong, and what must be done to improve in the comments section below.
Don't think #avfc were heroic. They didn't have to be. Well worth their win – Liverpool were awful.
— Paul Little (@little_football) September 13, 2014
Aston Villa: No big chances allowed and no defensive errors this season.
Fair play, those boys can defend.— Andrew Beasley (@BassTunedToRed) September 13, 2014
Er… Um… (Which sums up #LFC today.)
— Paul Tomkins (@paul_tomkins) September 13, 2014
Dublin_Kopite in the forums:
All a bit too slow eh? Tempo was off throughout the game. Mario’s movement up front was questionable. The trio of Coutinho, Markovic and Lallana were two slow and not enough pace. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TUESDAY!
A horrific performance from #LFC today. Utterly devoid of any creativity. The MF wasn't set up right & Lovren made another crucial error.
— Hari Sethi (@Hari_Sethi) September 13, 2014
https://twitter.com/BrentV_RSA/status/510856437904703488
Arminius in the forums:
One shot on goal in the whole game….is it September 2012 again?
Bad day at the office for #LFC. Three debutants in the front four didn't help, I feel.
— Kristian Walsh (@Kristian_Walsh) September 13, 2014
Javi Manquillo was the best player for us. Deceptively quick on the turn + in recovery, tight marker, takes up great positions in att 3rd.
— Ambassador Deep (@srijandeep) September 13, 2014
https://twitter.com/MarkmaccaMc/status/510881424170577921
Herb in the forums:
No idea why we were so slow today compared to how we played against City and Spurs. Was a real frustrating watch. Rodgers got it wrong again against Villa at home, and I’m not sure how much more convincing he needs to bin 4231 and stick with a diamond. Desperately need two wins now next week.
https://twitter.com/Liddellpool/status/510919306679705600
Liverpool's defence. Not poetry in motion.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) September 13, 2014
theresalwaystomorrow in the forums:
It wasn’t good. I think this exposed our lack of ambition up front. Balotelli was a Hollywood signing. We needed a really committed striker with hunger we got a brand icon.
One of those games best forgotten today, there are no gimmes in this league & Villa cashed in on a bad day at the office. #LFC.
— Si Steers (@sisteers) September 13, 2014
Fan Comments