Collymore puts final nail into Liverpool

STAN Collymore effectively killed off what remote hopes Liverpool had of catching Manchester United with two goals which ensured a winning start for Villa manager John Gregory. Collymore gained some measure of revenge over the club which rejected him last summer and may have brought Roy Evans closer to the end of his reign as Liverpool manager.

Collymore had failed to live up to his £7m price tag since his summer move from Anfield, with just five goals in his previous 32 appearances. But it was the Collymore of old who caused havoc when he ran at the Liverpool defence. He could easily have had a hat-trick before being withdrawn from the action 13 minutes from time to a standing ovation from the Villa fans.

Gregory reverted to a 3-4-3 system and Villa certainly posed a threat with a Collymore, Yorke, Joachim combination up front. The three points are vital in their battle against relegation. Injury-hit Liverpool also played their part in one of the most entertaining matches at Villa Park this season, with rival keepers Mark Bosnich and Brad Friedel outstanding.

But defeat leaves Liverpool 12 points off the pace in the Premiership and looks to have ended any lingering title aspirations for Evans.

Gregory was given the worst possible start, with Michael Owen putting Liverpool ahead from the penalty spot after only six minutes with his 18th goal of the season. Bosnich brought down Oyvind Leonhardsen after he had been put clear by Steve McManaman and Owen sent Bosnich the wrong way with the resulting spot-kick.

Villa then suffered a setback when leading scorer Yorke picked up his fifth booking of the campaign which leaves him facing a suspension. But in the 10th minute Collymore struck an opportunist goal to bring Villa level. Yorke and Joachim were involved in the build-up and when the ball came to Collymore on the edge of the area, he fired a low drive past Friedel, who had replaced David James.

But three minutes later, Collymore was involved in a midfield flare-up with Paul Ince which saw both players collect yellow cards. Both sides played with great freedom and Collymore could have struck again when he shrugged off the challenge of Jamie Carragher, then lofted his chip over Friedel but wide of the post.

Friedel, whose inclusion ended James's record of 212 successive games for Liverpool, had to cling on to a low drive from Yorke and a curling Collymore free kick.

But Liverpool enjoyed a period of supremacy before the interval, with Bosnich brilliantly tipping over a 20 yard curler from Owen and then received to see McManaman’s deflected shot fly inches past the post.

Collymore again looked menacing after the break and one surging run left the Liverpool defence in his wake before he released the ball to Joachim. He was odds on to score, but Friedel did exceptionally well to spread himself the full length of his goal and block Joachim’s shot.

Bosnich was relieved to see a shot from Owen which took a wicked deflection off Wright, hit the post as he scrambled across the goal.

Then in the 65th minute Collymore sent Villa Park wild with delight as he grabbed his second goal of the game. Taylor was put clear by Yorke and his shot beat Friedel comprehensively but rebounded back off the post. However the razor sharp Collymore was on hand to convert the rebound.

"Stan was really up for this game as he had had 40,000 Liverpool fans on his back when he went back to Anfield earlier this season,” said John Gregory afterwards. “He was determined to do well and that was a magnificent performance.”