0-2

*Liverpool increased the pressure on Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert by beating his struggling side to secure a third away league win in succession.*

The threat of a pre-match protest by Villa fans did not materialise but the home side went behind when Fabio Borini prodded in a Jordan Henderson cross.

Christian Benteke had a chance to level but his powerful strike was saved.

Liverpool survived a number of other scares before Rickie Lambert arrowed in an 18-yard shot to secure victory.

The Reds have lost only one of their last 10 league games and earned the three points without captain Steven Gerrard, who had not been risked after going off with a tight hamstring during last Saturday’s win at Sunderland.

Villa, who improved after the break, failed to score for a fifth league game on the trot and they are now three points above the relegation zone, with their next two top-flight games against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Some Villa fans had threatened a protest by boycotting their seats in the Holte End for the first eight minutes of the match to mark each year that Randy Lerner had owned the club.

Villa’s Lambert had urged against such action and the supporters appeared to have listened to his request with hardly an empty seat to be seen.

However, the home side found themselves behind after striker Borini guided home an inviting Henderson cross to score his first goal of the campaign.

Villa could have fallen further behind but Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling failed to take two promising chances for the Reds.

Keeper Brad Guzan also kept Villa in the game when he tipped a Martin Skrtel header against the post.

Carles Gil, signed by Villa this week, came on to make his debut and his arrival signalled a spell of pressure from the home side.

However, Benteke had a well-struck half-volley saved by fellow Belgium international Simon Mignolet, while Baker headed a corner just over.

Benteke also volleyed wide before Lambert gave Liverpool the breathing space they needed by scoring his third goal of the season with a low shot into the bottom corner.
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BBC Sport
Wednesday, 28 January 2015

Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert backed by chief executive Tom Fox

*Aston Villa chief executive Tom Fox says manager Paul Lambert has the full support of the club and remains important to owner Randy Lerner.*

Villa have taken only 12 points from their last 18 Premier League games, but Fox told BBC Sport sacking Lambert mid-season would be like “flipping a coin”.

“When things aren’t going well, fans bay for that type of blood,” Fox said.

“That’s not the way that I or the owner are going to make a decision. It’s a false narrative.”

Villa have scored only 97 goals in 98 games during former Norwich City manager Lambert’s time in charge.

But Fox defended the statistics and believes Villa’s players are close to delivering on their hard work on the training pitch.

“I think football’s a funny business and I think to put it all on the manager, again, that’s a bit of a false narrative,” he added.

“There’s a lot of things happening at this football club, and clearly what happens on the pitch is a focal point.

“Clearly the manager is the one person who can really influence that, so everyone focuses on it.

“Our focus for the last couple of months has been on making sure we support Paul to make us as successful as possible, and I think we’re heading in the right direction.”

Villa, who made a good start to the season with 10 points from their first four games, are 15th in the Premier League table, just three points above the relegation zone.

Fox, who joined Villa in August after five years as commercial manager of Arsenal, said American owner Lerner was “having fun with the club” despite putting them up for sale last year.

“He’s very involved in the football club, he watches every match,” he said.

“I’ve been at his house watching matches together and both of us are standing up pacing around at various points of time - depending on what’s happening - so he know’s what’s happening here.

“He’s very, very well informed as to the business side of what’s happening on the pitch,” he added.

“I don’t think he’s a motivated seller right now. I think he’ll want to make sure that he’s put Aston Villa on the best possible path for the future.”