Aston Villa player ratings vs Liverpool: Kamara good, Olsen suspect while Konsa and Mings struggle

It was a tale of two halves for Aston Villa as Unai Emery’s men rallied after going two goals down. Goals from Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk made Villa’s task a hugely difficult one but, after a dressing down from the head coach at the break, Ollie Watkins converted one of the many chances that fell his way to ease the frustration amongst the masses here at Villa Park.

Going into this, Emery was without World Cup winner Emi Martinez and the injured Jacob Ramsey while the boss opted for the experience of Ashley Young at right-back ahead of Matty Cash.

Villa were, though, quick out of the traps and fashioned a decent chance after just 43 seconds when Emi Buendia found Watkins but his effort was all too weak. The visitors soon went ahead through Salah who tapped home after Trent Alexander-Arnold’s lofted pass into Andy Robertson bamboozled Villa’s backline before the latter squared to the Egyptian for his sixth goal in as many games against Villa.

Unai Emery (Image: David Davies/PA Wire)

Villa, to their credit, kept knocking on Alisson’s door but the finishing, much like the defending in that first half, was suspect. Liverpool then doubled their advantage when Villa failed to deal with Robertson’s outswinging corner before van Dijk lashed home on the half volley past Olsen for 0-2.

After being given a rocket in the dressing room at the break, Villa came out fired up and fashioned chance after chance with John McGinn spurning the best one as he opted to head instead of volleying goalwards after a good cross from Lucas Digne. Villa soon levelled, though, and it was another cross – this time from Douglas Luiz – before Watkins planted his header back across goal and past Alisson for 1-2.

Villa continued to push but, as Liverpool injected fresh legs, it was the Reds who pushed clear once again as 18-year-old substitute Stefan Bajcetic made it 3-1. The Spaniard rounded Olsen before finishing in front of the Holte End after Darwin Nunez’s cross was parried into his path. Here’s the player ratings from a what-could-have-been evening in B6.

Starting formation: 4-4-2

Robin Olsen: In for his first start at Villa Park after previously shipping 11 goals in his three away games prior to tonight. Olsen lacked conviction at times but had no chance with either of the two first-half goals. The Swede did save well to deny Nunez on two occasions inside the first 45 minutes, the former a well-struck volley with Villa caught out on the break, while the latter a close-range stop from a devilish Alexander-Arnold free-kick. Olsen saved well with his feet to deny Salah from scoring five minutes after the restart. The back-up stopper grew in confidence and rushed out well to boot clear amid Liverpool’s counter-attack. He did parry Nunez’s cross which fell into Bajcetic’s path as the Spaniard made it 3-1. Never looked settled. 5

Olsen watches a shot go wide (Image: Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Ashley Young: Preferred at right-back ahead of Matty Cash but Young looked a little suspect for the first time in a long, long time. 5

Ezri Konsa: A part of a shaky backline with Konsa never looking comfortable as Villa played a dangerously-high line. Konsa also spooned a clearance up into the air which sent Nunez through one-on-one but for Olsen’s smart save. Kept getting done by Nunez for pace. Struggled. 5

Tyrone Mings: Made some vital interceptions including a sliding challenge to sweep the ball away from Salah who would have been in on goal. Like most, didn’t looked comfortable as Liverpool kept threading balls into Nunez up front. Van Dijk’s goal struck off Mings before going in. Mings was also at fault as his poor clearance led to Liverpool’s third. 5

Lucas Digne: Got a fair bit of stick from the away fans for his Everton roots, while Digne struggled to contain Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool’s midfielders who looked to play on Digne’s side. Defensively OK while, after the break, put in some good balls in for the likes of Buendia and McGinn. Didn’t really put a foot wrong. 6

John McGinn: Played on the right side of midfield once again and was Villa’s most-creative player for large parts, putting on-the-money balls into the likes of Watkins and Bailey in attack. Should have scored not long after the restart but opted to go with his head as opposed to lashing home on the bounce from Digne’s ball in. Too hesitant in and around the box when in good goalscoring positions. Grafted for the cause. 6

Boubacar Kamara: Looked to get Villa playing higher up but was well marshalled by Liverpool’s trio of Thiago, Henderson and Fabinho. Did well in there before being replaced and was probably the pick from those in claret and blue. 7*

Douglas Luiz: Far too casual – which can often be the case – from Douglas Luiz with the likes of Henderson, Thiago and even Alexander-Arnold pinching balls off him. Douglas was in disagreement with Konsa over something as Liverpool kept attacking directly through the middle of the pitch. The Brazilian improved after the break and assisted Watkins with a super cross into the box. Not at his best today and he’ll no doubt agree, 5

Emi Buendia: A little bit hit and miss in terms of his creation and final deliveries while he did pick out Bailey well early on before the Jamaican failed to finish from 12 yards. Carried the ball well for Villa on that left side and hit the side netting when picked out well by Digne. Lacks that killer instinct. 6

Buendia started against Liverpool (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Ollie Watkins: Had a decent chance after just 43 seconds but his effort was a tame one as Alisson claimed it. Chances kept falling Watkins’ way with McGinn putting in a beauty of an inswinger but Watkins failed to get enough power on his far-post header. Watkins thought he put Villa ahead after Douglas’ threaded pass but, after hitting the back of the net, was flagged offside. He soon got his goal, though, planting his header back across goal for his third of the season to drag Villa back into it. That’s five in five against Liverpool now. 6

Watkins was on the scoresheet against Liverpool (Image: Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)

Leon Bailey: Nothing really came off for the Jamaican this evening who partnered Watkins in Emery’s two-man attack. 5

Bailey watches Alexander-Arnold (Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images) Substitutes

Danny Ings on for Bailey, 86 mins

Philippe Coutinho on for Buendia, 86 mins

Leander Dendoncker on for Kamara, 86 mins

Not used: Filip Marschall, Matty Cash, Calum Chambers, Jan Bednarek, Cameron Archer, Kadan Young.

Opposition

Liverpool, 4-3-3: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold (Gomez, 78), Matip, van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson (Bajetic, 79), Thiago (Keita, 67); Oxlade-Chamberlain (Elliott, 67), Nunez (Doak, 88), Salah.

Subs not used: Kelleher, Tsimakis, Carvalho, Phillips.

Goals

Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins (59)

Liverpool: Mo Salah (5), van Dijk (38)

Referee: Paul Tierney

Attendance: 42,085

Next up for Villa: Tottenham (a) on Sunday, January 1; 2pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports