Player Performance:
Proving once again that he is the power behind the club, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard scored a dead-ball hat-trick to seal off a 5-0 beating of Aston Villa at Anfield. Gerrard had to wait until the 39th minute before scoring a goal, when Riera was taken down inside the box by Reo-Coker, and the penalty was awarded. Gerrard calmly slotted the ball home past Brad Friedel in the bottom right hand corner of the goal. His second goal came after the half, when the Reds were awarded a free kick, when Carlos Cuellar brought down Kuyt right outside the penalty box. Gerrard was tapped the ball, and he slipped it past (passed it more like!) the American keeper once again in his favorite bottom right hand corner. The captain’s last goal came in the 65th minute, when Friedel was sent off for taking down Torres in the box. Gerrard stepped up to the spot once again, and rounded off the perfect night and hat-trick by drilling it again into that bottom right-hand corner past substitute keepr, Brad Guzan.
Match Summary:
Coming in off two great victories which had scorelines of 4-1 and 4-0, Liverpool came in to this match fired up. Villa were overpowered by the Reds midfielders and forwards, with Kuyt and Riera netting before Gerrard stole the show. Villa took a huge dent to their Champions League dreams with this loss, and Liverpool took a massive step towards Premier League victory.
Player’s Cleats:
Gerrard stuck with his black Adidas Predator Powerswerves from last year, netting a needed hat-trick for his side in their hunt for the title. You can buy a pair of his cleats here at soccer.com.
