MX23RW : Friday, February 7 09:54:38| >> :120:5365:5365:
[monks data]
Liverpool logo
Premier League
Jan 18, 2014 at 5.30pm UK
 
Aston Villa logo

2-2

Sturridge (45'), Gerrard (53' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-2)
Weimann (25'), Benteke (36')

Jordan Henderson: 'We need to defend better'

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson admits that his side need to defend better as a team following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has admitted that his side need to defend better as a team following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

The Reds struggled in the first half of the match, with Villa overrunning them in midfield and racing into a two-goal lead, before Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard scored to rescue a point for the hosts at Anfield.

"We have to defend better as a team. It's not just about the back four and the 'keeper, it's the whole team. I'm sure that's something we will work on. When we changed the formation we dealt with things better and got ourselves back in the game. Having got back to 2-2 with over half an hour left, we wanted to kick on and find a winner but we just couldn't get it," Henderson told the Liverpool Echo.

"Credit to Villa as they came with a game plan and their tactics in the first 20 to 30 minutes were working. We found it difficult to play and weren't at our best. They played a diamond formation with [Andreas] Weimann in behind me and Stevie. They had a lot of bodies in and around the middle for the flick-ons off [Christian] Benteke. It was difficult to cope with at times.

"We're disappointed. We set such high expectations here. We want to go into every game and win it. Unfortunately, we couldn't do that but the good thing is that from 2-0 down we showed our character and our fight. We showed that we didn't want to be beaten. Villa beat us 3-1 here last season and we were beaten away to Stoke last season. If you look at it that way then it's an improvement."

The result left Liverpool fourth in the Premier League table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal.

ID:131721: cacheID:131721:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2798:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Steven Gerrard of Liverpool scores his penalty during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield on January 18, 2014
Read Next:
Gerrard rescues point for Reds
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool23175156213556
2Arsenal24148249222750
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest24145540271347
4Chelsea24127547311643
5Manchester CityMan City24125748351341
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle24125742291341
7Bournemouth24117641281340
8Aston Villa2410773437-337
9Fulham249963632436
10Brentford24103114342133
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton248973539-433
12Crystal Palace247982830-230
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd2485112834-629
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs24831348371127
15West Ham UnitedWest Ham2476112946-1727
16Everton236892328-526
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2454153452-1819
18Leicester CityLeicester2445152553-2817
19Ipswich TownIpswich2437142249-2716
20Southampton2423191854-369


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!