Smicer seals Liverpool win

A delighted Hendrie celebrates his goal

Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
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Liverpool got their Premiership title assault back on track as a determined display earned them three points against Aston Villa.

Jari Litmanen - who missed a first-half penalty - put Liverpool ahead with a freak goal after Villa goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel's clearance bounced conveniently into his path via referee Andy D'Urso.

Lee Hendrie then profited from a Jerzy Dudek error to restore parity as Villa rallied in front of their home fans.

But Vladimir Smicer slotted home the visitors' winner midway through the second half in what was a pulsating encounter.

Liverpool's Dietmar Hamman returned to the side after completing a three-match ban.

And his presence gave a fluency to the midfield which had clearly been missing in previous games.

The visitors exerted some good early pressure on the Villa defence, with Litmanen proving a constant threat with his deft flicks and excellent vision.

  Key moments

9 mins: Jari Litmanen slots home the opener after Peter Schmeichel's error

21 mins: Lee Hendrie restores parity for Villa

36 mins: Litmanen misses a penalty

73 mins: Vladimir Smicer scores second for Liverpool

But the Finnish international had a calamitous throw-out by Schmeichel to thank for Liverpool's opener on nine minutes.

The Villa keeper, keen to set his side on the attack, only managed to find the back of referee D'Urso.

The ball rebounded kindly to the feet of Litmanen, who fired past the stranded Dane.

You can't legislate for a goal like that - it was a bit of a freak effort and Litmanen will never get an easier opportunity to score

Aston Villa manager John Gregory

An unusually packed Villa Park was stunned into silence by the keeper's pantomine performance.

And even new signing Nicolas Anelka must have seen the funny side of events from the substitutes' bench.

Litmanen cannot believe his luck...

But another goalkeeping error, at the other end, allowed Villa back into the game.

Dudek failed to hold onto a Juan Pablo Angel shot and Hendrie reacted first in the Liverpool area to fire in the equaliser.

The pace of Darius Vassell, recalled to the Villa side, troubled Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz at the heart of Liverpool's defence.

And the England Under-21 striker almost gave his side the advantage, turning in the area and unleashing a fierce shot but straight at Dudek.

Vassel also forced an excellent save out of Dudek after the interval.

The game ebbed and flowed, with both teams pressing for a second goal.

There was pressure because of the last two results, but it shows the calibre of the club that we can come to Aston Villa and turn things around

Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson

Patrik Berger set off on a mazy run and was only denied a shot on goal by George Boateng's excellent intervention.

However, Boateng soon turned villain, bringing down Steven Gerrard in the area with his trailing leg.

Michael Owen, a largely anonymous figure throughout the game, spurned the opportunity to score his 100th goal for the club by allowing Litmanen to take the kick-spot.

But Litmanen contrived to hit the post with Schmeichel going completely the wrong way.

Neither side could keep the ball on the ground as the second half started in scrappy fashion.

... Schmeichel cannot believe his eyes

And Villa were forced into a change early on. Goalscorer Hendrie limped off and was replaced by Ian Taylor.

Boateng was booked for a clumsy challenge on Vladimir Smicer, the game all too frequently punctuated with unforced errors.

Smicer restored some quality to proceedings, evading the Villa defence to unleash a powerful shot that flashed just over the crossbar.

The woodwork and John Arne Riise spared Liverpool on 65 minutes when Villa's swift counter-attack, led by Vassell, saw Taylor strike the ball against the post.

And Villa captain Paul Merson could only blast the rebound against the Norwegian Riise.

Anelka was brought on to add some thrust to the Liverpool attack.

But it was Liverpool's Czech connection that made the visitors' second.

Berger's inch-perfect pass found Smicer who controlled the ball beautifully and dispatched his shot with equal aplomb.

Some fine goalkeeping by Schmeichel kept Villa in the game, denying Owen with a world-class save.

However, Schmeichel's appearance at the other end in the dying seconds could not bring the equaliser Villa's spirited display deserved.

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Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Samuel (Stone 81), Mellberg, Staunton, Wright, Boateng, Merson, Hendrie (Taylor 47), Kachloul, Angel, Vassell.
Subs Not Used: Dublin, Enckelman, Barry.
Booked: Boateng.
Goals: Hendrie 21.

Liverpool: Dudek, Carragher, Hyypia, Henchoz, Riise, Smicer (McAllister 86), Hamann, Gerrard (Murphy 77), Berger, Litmanen (Anelka 68), Owen.
Subs Not Used: Kirkland, Wright.
Goals: Litmanen 9, Smicer 73.

Attendance: 42,602.

Referee: A D'Urso (Billericay).