Aston Villa: Bosnich, Nelson, Wright, Ehiogu, Staunton
(Hughes 46), Southgate, Townsend, Taylor, Draper, Milosevic,
Yorke.
Subs Not Used: Johnson, Joachim, Hendrie, Oakes.
Goals: Taylor 83.
Liverpool: James, Matteo, Kvarme, McAteer, Wright, Bjornebye,
McManaman, Collymore (Berger 54), Fowler, Barnes, Redknapp.
Subs Not Used: Harkness, Ruddock, Kennedy, Warner.
Booked: Collymore.
Att: 39,339
Ref: S W Dunn (Bristol).
By John Curtis, PA Sport
Aston Villa midfielder Ian Taylor dealt Liverpool's championship hopes a massive blow by grabbing a late winner in the Premiership clash at Villa Park. Taylor, a lifelong Villa fan, grabbed his third and most important goal of the campaign seven minutes from time. A left-wing centre from Villa skipper Andy Townsend picked him out at the far post and he had time to steady himself before firing past David James.
It gave Villa's hopes of qualifying for Europe a massive boost but also means that Manchester United remain four points clear at the top of Roy Evans' side. Taylor's goal also enabled Villa to put their Liverpool hoodoo behind them after a run of four successive defeats at the hands of the Reds in which they had conceded 11 goals and not managed one in reply. But it left Liverpool reflecting on an incredible miss by the normally deadly Robbie Fowler 14 minutes from time.
Steve McManaman nodded a Jason McAteer cross in the path of 22-goal Fowler but from three yards out he volleyed over the bar. Villa just about deserved their victory after creating more openings but the game generally failed to live up to expectations. There was plenty of commitment and endeavour from both sides but a lack of star quality and long periods of scrappy play.
But that will not worry Villa manager Brian Little whose side have recovered from their poor run over Christmas and New Year with 10 points from the last four games. Villa were first to settle and Ian Taylor should have done better when he latched onto an inswinging Andy Townsend corner but he directed his header wide. Former Liverpool star Steve Staunton then burst into the penalty area after a neat one-two with Taylor but a fine tackle by Bjorn Kvarme halted him in his tracks. Liverpool keeper David James then had to beat out a fierce drive from Dwight Yorke after he had accelerated past Stig Bjornebye and Dominic Matteo.
Liverpool weathered the early pressure and Stan Collymore should have given them the lead after latching onto a through ball from Collymore. But, as Mark Bosnich advanced quickly off his line, Collymore chipped the ball over the Villa goalkeeper and over the bar.
Play became very scrappy in the second part of the opening 45 minutes but Liverpool came close to breaking the deadlock a minute before the interval. Fowler got clear on the left flank and there was no need for Bosnich to commit himself by hurtling out of the penalty area. It left Fowler with an opportunity to fire towards an unguarded goal from a narrow angle but Gareth Southgate was able to race back and clear off the line.
Villa, who replaced the injured Staunton with debutant David Hughes at half-time, again made most of the running during the early phases of the second period with wing-back Fernando Nelson more prominent. A 25-yard drive from Townsend flew a foot wide and then James beat out a Mark Draper volley while McManaman made a last ditch tackle to deny Taylor as he prepared to latch onto a centre from Nelson. But all those attempts to break the deadlock paled compared with that dreadful miss from Fowler at the other end.
Liverpool manager Roy Evans was in bullish mood after watching his side slump to a 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa which leaves them four points adrift of Premiership favourites Manchester United. Evans admitted he was upset to have lost out on the day, but refused to concede the Championship race despite the fact his side could be seven points behind United next time they take the field. He said: "The Championship race is not over by a long chalk. I have told my players to get their heads up and assured them they are still very capable of winning it. "When the gap at the top starts to open up it looks more daunting. We have to stay with them, but all we can do is look after ourselves." When asked about what led to the defeat at Villa Park, Evans added: "We created some good chances, but we needed the goal which never came. "I always felt whoever scored first would win and unfortunately for us they got it. Villa are always difficult to beat. I think sometimes the two systems cancel each other out. "We created chances last week (at home to Blackburn) and didn't score and we have to be more aware of that otherwise our chance of the title will go, but the effort we showed was fine today."
Villa's goalscorer Ian Taylor refused to accept his strike meant Liverpool's Championship challenge is over, but conceded today's result could prove significant. He said: "It was a good result for us as we look towards a European place and a great confidence boost to finally bury the jinx against them. "Maybe we have dealt a blow to their Premiership challenge it will be tough for them now. But I'm sure they will be there at the end of the season."
Villa manager Brian Little said: "It was nice to get the result against Liverpool after playing so well against them in recent matches and ending up with nothing. "Before they have had the half chance in the games and they have gone in. But we will have to see whether it is a psychological boost. It all depends how we react and perform now in our next match against Leicester on Wednesday. "But there is no doubting the fact that the lads are very pleased in the dressing room with what they have achieved against a team who have given us a lot of problems in the last two seasons. "But we're not getting carried away. Things have to be improved upon. There is still a lot to do and we have to put together a good run to achieve that European place which is what we want."
Liverpool's Premiership title odds have lengthened following their 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa today to leave them four points adrift of Manchester United. Ladbrokes now make Roy Evans' side 7-2 from 3-1, with United 1-3 favourites from 4-9. Newcastle are 10-1, Arsenal and Chelsea 16-1, with Villa and Wimbledon both 50-1.