Liverpool 2 - 2 Aston Villa

Liverpool 2-2 Aston Villa

Updated: January 21, 2008, 10:19 PM UK

Peter Crouch rescued a Barclays Premier League point for Liverpool with a late goal that salvaged a 2-2 draw against Aston Villa at Anfield.

Crouch hooked in right footed from 10 yards in the the 88th minute to avert a disastrous result for under-fire manager Rafael Benitez.

Yossi Benayoun gave the Reds a first-half lead but Marlon Harewood and a Fabio Aurelio own goal threatened to win it for Villa.

Although Crouch levelled - against his former team - Liverpool are now 14 points behind Manchester United and Arsenal.

Benitez fielded arguably his strongest side against Aston Villa - one of the club's main contenders for fourth spot - in a match which had plenty at stake.

There were six changes from the side that beat Luton in the FA Cup last week. Javier Mascherano was back in central midfield, Jose Reina returned in goal and new signing Martin Skrtel was on the bench.

• Gerrard unsettled by speculation

Aston Villa were without the influential Gareth Barry for the first time in almost four years - the England man missed out with a pelvic injury.

Olof Mellberg returned, while Scott Carson was ineligible under the terms of his loan from Liverpool. Stuart Taylor took his place.

As expected there was a high-profile display of support for Benitez from the Kop.

The fans were struggling to focus on the match itself. But they needed too, and fast.

Villa were quick on the break, attacking down the right, and with Gabriel Agbonlahor a constant threat.

Dirk Kuyt's cross presented Benayoun with a volleyed chance that flew over, and Craig Gardner charged down a Harry Kewell drive.

And Liverpool took the lead after 19 minutes. Steven Gerrard and Kuyt set up the close-range chance for Benayoun to net at the second attempt from six yards.

Villa hit back with accurate, long balls for Agbonlahor and Ashley Young - but Liverpool almost snatched a second goal in the 31st minute.

Again it was the impressive Gerrard, aided by Kuyt, who set up Fernando Torres from 15 yards - but the striker put his effort wide.

John Carew, playing deep, caused plenty of problems with his flick-ons, but Liverpool were defending well, and the ball was quickly shifted to Gerrard, who was dominating midfield.

Watching Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini, who will face Liverpool in the Champions League in March, will have seen plenty to concern him in Gerrard's overall play.

Curtis Davies sliced wide of his own goal soon into the second half, before Kuyt wasted a great chance to put Liverpool further ahead.

Mascherano and Gerrard surged up field, exchanging passes, before the ball was laid into Kuyt's path, invitingly, on the right. But the Dutch striker skewed his effort into the Kop.

Torres almost got clear, Taylor saving at his feet, before the Spaniard turned on the edge of the box to fire inches over.

Liverpool were now producing their best spell of the game. Strong in the tackle, supporting and attacking with pace. Alvaro Arbeloa saw one clever chip clear the bar after more impressive play by Mascherano and Gerrard.

To their credit, Villa withstood this pressure and with 24 minutes left sent on striker Harewood for Gardner. His first involvement was a run and cross to set up Carew for an effort saved by Reina.

Arbeloa was booked for a foul on Stiliyan Petrov after 68 minutes, and from the free-kick, Villa were level. Martin Laursen headed the ball back across goal for Harewood to flick into the net.

Liverpool sent on Skrtel for Arbeloa, before Mascherano was booked for a foul on Young.

Villa launched another attack and were ahead when Mellberg's effort from the right was deflected into goal by Fabio Aurelio.

But Crouch averted a disastrous result for Benitez when he hooked in right footed from 10 yards after Laursen had failed to clear.

Gerrard unsettled by speculation

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard admitted the ongoing problems off the pitch are affecting the team after his side scraped a 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa.

Peter Crouch rescued a Barclays Premier League point with a late goal at Anfield tonight. Crouch hooked in right footed from 10 yards in the the 88th minute to avert a disastrous result for under-fire manager Rafael Benitez.

Yossi Benayoun gave the Reds a 19th-minute lead but Marlon Harewood (69) and a Fabio Aurelio own goal (72) threatened to win it for Villa.

Gerrard told Setanta Sports 1: 'We should win all of our home games, with the squad we've got. We're disappointed with the draw but credit to Villa, they maybe deserved a point.

'It's certainly not good enough. We'll keep going, it (the title race) is not over until it is over. But it's certainly not good enough.'

Asked about whether the speculation concerning the future of the club's ownership and Benitez's position is having an effect, Gerrard said: 'It's not just this week, it's been going on for some time and it's certainly not helping the players.

'I've got to be careful what I say about the situation but it's certainly not helping the team.

'We know what's going on, but as players you've got a job to do on the pitch and you try to put what's going on off the pitch to the back of your mind. But sometimes it's impossible, when it is every day.'

Liverpool boss Benitez felt his side had not got what they deserved from the game.

'It was difficult to explain, after half-time we had a lot of chances but couldn't score the second goal, and in just three minutes, two long free-kicks, we conceded,' he said.

'We were attacking, controlling, you could see they were not creating anything. At the end we scored another goal but I think we deserved to win first and not be under pressure.'

As for speculation and off-field problems, Benitez added on Setanta Sports 1: 'I really don't have too much information, I just keep preparing for games.

'I am not thinking about this, I think about how to win every game.'

Benitez is not in the market for more January signings following the arrival of Martin Skrtel.

He said: 'Not really. I'm not looking at more players, we signed the centre-back we needed and will keep going with the players we have.'

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: 'I'd probably accept on the balance of play a draw was probably a fair result.

'Obviously there is a tinge of disappointment, with three minutes to go in the game we haven't held on. But overall in the game I thought a draw was a fair result.''

Asked about Harewood's contribution, O'Neill said on Setanta Sports 1: 'I'm delighted.

'He's waited a long time for his chance. It's been a frustrating time for him, he came here (to Villa) to battle for a position. The fact is Gabby Agbonlahor and John Carew have played so well up there - and Luke Moore at times has done particularly well himself - and it's been frustrating for him.

'But he's gone on, got a goal and I'm delighted for him. I thought he made a big difference when he came on.''