Rude Welcome To Returning Houllier Sees Liverpool Down Aston Villa, 3-0

When, earlier today, we speculated that the first 45 minutes may have been Aston Villa’s worst of the season, we had forgetting about the Villan’s trip earlier this year to St. James’ Park. Early in the second half at Anfield, Liverpool gave us reason to remember.

In the 56th minute, Liverpool scored an all too easy counter attack goal, the Villa defense doing little to stop Maxi Rodrguez from given the Reds a 3-0 lead. Opening his right foot onto a ball he put into the upper-right hand corner of Brad Friedel’s net, Rodríguez quelled any notion that Villa, looking slightly more lively with some second half pressure, had a point in them.

Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, who has become Aston Villa midfielder Ciaran Clark thanks to the club’s injury problems, will miss Saturday’s match against West Bromwich Albion. Clark picked up a yellow card in the 38th minute of Villa’s Monday match at Anfield, earning him a one game suspension.

The yellow card was Clark’s fifth of the season, accumulated in only nine matches. Per English Premier League rules, Clark will now serve a one match suspension for yellow card accumulation, forcing him to sit out this weekend’s derby.

The last days of Rafa Benítez’s reign at Anfield brought nostalgia for Gèrard Houllier’s stewardship, though their tenures bear a number of similarities. Their successes came relatively early. Their purchases were highly criticized. Their departures were somewhat drawn out, coming at the end of a long spell of criticism. By the time each had left, Liverpool was scarcely better off than before their arrivals, despite successes in the interim.

It’s been six-and-half years since Houllier steered Liverpool, enough time for fans to focus on six trophies (in as many years) rather than their fifth place finish in 2002-03. As such, Houllier is likely to get a relatively warm welcome, returning as Aston Villa’s manager for today’s match at Anfield.