Aston Villa: Martin O'Neill fumes after Liverpool given a helping hand

Mar 23 2009 By Mat Kendrick

Manager Martin O’Neill accused Aston Villa of giving Liverpool a helping hand after their Champions League challenge came under increasing pressure at Anfield.

Villa were guilty of poor defending in each of the Reds’ five goals during a one-side contest which puts Rafa Benitez team firmly back in the Premier League title race.

Liverpool are now only one point behind leaders Manchester United, although Sir Alex Ferguson’s team still have the advantage of a game in hand.

Villa, meanwhile, have seen their hopes of a top four finish recede again with a result which leaves them three points behind Arsenal in fifth.

Yesterday’s 5-0 thrashing also means Villa are now 14 goals worse off than Arsene Wenger’s improving Gunners going into the final eight games.

O’Neill conceded Villa’s “lousy” defending assisted a Liverpool team whose confidence was still flowing following convincing wins over United and Real Madrid.

“We were well beaten,” said O’Neill. “Liverpool played exceptionally well and we certainly contributed to our own downfall with some of the goals that we conceded in the game.

“We were 1-0 behind and had two great chances and their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save from John Carew.

“But the second goal just knocked us for six.

“Liverpool are playing very well at the moment, they’re a very fine side.

“They’ve had two brilliant results just recently, one in the Champions League against Real Madrid and then one at Old Trafford against Manchester United.

“I don’t think they would have needed any help from us to produce a goal or two if that was possible, but we certainly helped them.

“We’ve played poorly and there’s no getting away from it.