Wow, someone at the north pole must really like Rafa Benitez as he got everything he wished for this Christmas.
An injury time winner from Fernando Torres gave Liverpool a huge 1-0 win at Aston Villa. Combined with Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Wolves on Boxing Day, Rafa’s reds find themselves only four points out from the last Champions League place as we end the year.
Consider all that has been written about Liverpool and what a disaster this season has been, Liverpool are still in 7th place, only four points behind Spurs. Does anyone think that Spurs will end the season above Liverpool?
The hero at Villa Park was Fernando Torres who become the fastest Liverpool player to reach 50 Premier League goals, and the 4th fastest in Premier League history.
While Rafa was celebrating his Christmas presents, Martin O’Neil must be wondering how he managed to tick off Santa. His Villa team had two great opportunities to make a statement that they were genuine Champions League contenders and unlike last year, there would be no late season swoon.
Instead Villa played two of the “Big Four” in Arsenal and Liverpool and fail to score in either match. Villa had a great opportunity to not only show their Champions League credentials, but that they could also be title contenders. Instead, they showed this week they are not at that level, and once again will be left fighting for a Europa League spot at the end of the season.
Martin O’Neil summed up his feelings after the game saying: “It’s a blow, there’s no doubt about it, a real, real blow to us. We will just have to reflect on it. It was said to me that it’s been a poor Christmas and, of course, yes, in terms of results it has been”
Elsewhere in a battle at the other end of the table, Hull came from 2-0 down at the Reebok to draw with Bolton 2-2. The point didn’t help either team as they are both in the bottom three and looking lie serious relegation candidates
