Aston Villa were defeated 3-1 by Liverpool on Boxing Day, handing head coach Unai Emery his first Premier League defeat in charge.
So, what five things did we learn?
WILD POST WORLD CUP RETURN
Anyone heading to B6 on Boxing Day afternoon was wondering exactly what was in store post World Cup break. There were clues in the dayβs early kick off as Spurs (see you on New Yearβs Day) capitulated and came back to draw with Brentford and in the three oβclock kick offs with goals galore, last-minute winners and multiple red cards. This wild return continued at Villa Park and points to how many of the next games might be as sides try to settle into rhythm and patterns after a month out. Villa Liverpool was anything but cagey and indeed β result aside β it was a pulsating watch.
There were some similarities between the sides in terms of ethos β fast breaks and dithering back lines β but in essence Liverpool were just βbetterβ at executing which, if we are honest, was no great surprise. Either way, can live with some craziness for the next couple of weeks.
FINISHING SCHOOL REQUIRED
The great irony of the game was that Villaβs solitary goal came from the sideβs most difficult chance. Ollie Watkinsβ header to bear Allison in the second half was a top finish β it was just a shame that it had followed some increasingly familiar wastefulness from the Villa striker. The audible frustration inside VP when he fluffed a diving header from McGinnβs cross in the first half was telling.
Personally, I thought Watkins had a good game β no one else in the squad can play his role in the current way Emery wishes to play. He held up well, brought others in and gets himself in dangerous positions. The problem is that if it is acknowledged he is not prolific then others must balance that. Unfortunately, Leon Bailey also missed two glorious chances whilst Emi Buendia and John McGinn seemed reticent when given opportunities to shoot or convert chances offered up. Wherever you sit on the Watkins issue, scoring goals is a team game and the blame yesterday is well and truly shared.
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KAMARA BRILLIANCE
For a spell at 2-1 Villa began to dominate the midfield largely because Boubacar Kamara stepped up and ran the show. Kloppβs only response was to change the Liverpool midfield to cope. Kamara exuded a class that stood out amongst some of the other Villa stuttering. Winning the ball, moving the ball β for 10 minutes he was the best player on the pitch. Thatβs not to say he was anonymous β far, far from it – for the other 80, but Emery must work out how to ensure that those dominant levels are more evident throughout. If he can Villa will only benefit.
When Kamara steps it up so it appears does the enigma that is Douglas Luiz β who in the same spell looked less sluggish than what had come before. For the time being these two are as far as certain starters as anyone in this squad β they can set the tempo and at their peak can make Villa a much more difficult proposition for opposing sides.
SQUAD BALANCE AND JANUARY CLUES
The fact that Unai Emery did not make any changes until the game was at 3-1 clearly caused some consternation to the crowd β and something that many Villa managers have been criticised for in the recent past. However, looking at that decision in a slightly different way it perhaps points at Emery trusting a way of playing and not seeing too many options to continue a βplanβ but with fresh players. I have already said here that Ings and Archer are not Ollie Watkins and the presence of teenager Kaden Young on the bench as a βwide optionβ says much. Equally the absence of Jacob Ramsey through injury was a blow β especially as there is not a like for like replacement. Villa missed the youngsterβs driving runs and ball progression and this must be something Emery is looking to add in January.
Emi Buendia was poor, continuing his lack of progress against top Premier League sides β and I am not sure how he fits in longer term (the same goes for Coutinho). As with any side who changes manager frequently over a period of time, the squad takes time to re-form, and new managers are left with βdead woodβ but then bequeath their own βdead woodβ to their successors.
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MINGS REMAINS THE TRUE DEFENSIVE LEADER OF THIS SIDE
Tyrone Mings had an exceptional game for Villa and showed dominance that has sometimes been AWOL this season especially under Gerrard. There was no doubt that Villa looked shaky as a defensive unit, but Mings held that together when he needed to β even if much of that was last ditch challenges. Lacking Emi Martinez, still celebrating and mocking anyone and everyone back in Argentina, and Matty Cash (post World Cup fitness) Mings needed to have strong game β a fact only underlined as their replacements Olsen and Young looked nervous.
Competition for places will still tell the long-term story for Mings β Chambers and Bednarek are not near this team, but Diego Carlos will be β but on Boxing Day he represented a vigour that was needed at times by Villa, even whilst marshalling a defence that conceded three times.
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AUTHOR | IVAN MCDOUALL
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ivan McDouall | UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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