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00:001st 1998, and Aston Villa entertained Liverpool in a Premier League encounter.
00:05The home team were, perhaps surprisingly, occupying first place in the premiership table,
00:10and had gone 12 games unbeaten, including 5 wins out of 6 at Villa Park,
00:15which all added up to their best ever start in the top flight.
00:18Liverpool, meanwhile, were languishing in 9th, and had lost their last 3 league games.
00:23Their away form was particularly unimpressive, you had to go back to August for their last win on the road.
00:29John Gregory took over as Villa boss in February of 1998, and started with a win against Liverpool.
00:35His squad was an all-English one, which included 21-year-old Lee Hendry,
00:39who'd won his first England cap in the win over the Czech Republic.
00:43Gregory was forced into making one change from the team that beat Southampton the week before.
00:47Mark Draper made only his third start of the season in place of the suspended Ian Taylor.
00:52Dion Dublin had scored 5 goals in 2 games since his move from Coventry.
00:57This was Gerard Houllier's second match in sole charge of Liverpool,
01:00after the partnership with Roy Evans had been disbanded.
01:03Steve Staunton was back at Villa Park after spending 7 years as a player there,
01:07before re-signing for Liverpool in the summer.
01:10There was a tactical change for the visitors, which meant recalls for Phil Babb and Steve Harkness in defence.
01:16Michael Owen was back after hamstring trouble, so Karl-Heinz Riegler dropped to the bench.
01:22Your match commentator is Martin Tyler.
01:26Club lights on at the start, the Knights are drawing in in England,
01:31the weather is certainly chillier.
01:35Particularly chilly the times for Liverpool as they look to dig themselves out of a slump.
01:42They've seen them falling down the table,
01:45they've seen some changes in the running of the football side of the club.
01:55Dublin, constantly knocking to Gareth Barry, who played for England's under-21s on Tuesday night.
02:02Remember he's still only 17.
02:05Another indication of the development of Aston Villa through the calendar year of 1998.
02:15Ekhjord to Watson, who continues to keep out Gary Charles as the right wing-back.
02:20An early forward dart from Merson, a cross in towards Dublin.
02:24Trying to knock it down to the centre where Lee Hendry was arriving.
02:30Foul by Collingworth.
02:32Aston Villa, 8 wins and 4 draws from their 12 league games so far this season.
02:48And Collingworth rising to the challenge of competition for places here.
02:59Owen getting in front.
03:03But it's no foul by Barry, it's just a throw given against Villa.
03:12Redknapp.
03:17And Alan Wright pressed by Higgum into conceding a corner.
03:22Higgum one of two wing-backs today for Liverpool.
03:27He's down the right, Harkness on the left.
03:30Three central defenders, a system very akin to that of Villa's.
03:35Ince going in!
03:38A great start for Liverpool.
03:48And all the purpose that Liverpool are looking to show at this difficult time
03:55encapsulated by Paul Ince then.
04:01Who made this his.
04:03Came a long way to get his head to it.
04:10And it's Aston Villa nil, Liverpool one, Paul Ince.
04:13Paul Ince.
04:25Collingworth.
04:28Here's Draper.
04:31Again, Merson was making himself available at the through pass,
04:34had just had the necessary accuracy.
04:39Southgate.
04:40Problem for Liverpool has been maybe a lack of reliability in their defending.
04:46But they've got an early lead to defend here.
04:52Collingworth.
04:53Berger can pick it up and maybe Fowler can pick a pass here to use.
04:58Owen's face, which is extraordinary.
05:01And Desjardins was left trailing, he did catch up, but in goes Fowler!
05:05Wonderful stop by the goalkeeper.
05:08Otherwise it would have been 2-0 to Liverpool with only five minutes gone.
05:14Well, Michael Owen didn't give that up,
05:16Manehjog initially took the ball away from him.
05:20And it came back in for Fowler.
05:23Headed on by Dublin here.
05:25Tremendous start to the game.
05:27And in goes Collingworth!
05:29He mishit it, James stuck out of foot.
05:33Sometimes those mishits can do the necessary, but not for Collingworth.
05:39James improvised a save.
05:46And here's Berger.
05:54So both goalkeepers
05:57coming up with impressive saves.
06:00Collingworth concentrating on keeping the shot down.
06:03He hit it into the ground.
06:06But James, although he was falling the other way,
06:09kept it out with a trailing leg.
06:13And it's Watson, brought out by Harkness,
06:15who can go on here and support Berger.
06:19Fowler.
06:28Good touch by Owen to Higgum.
06:35And now Redknapp.
06:38Liverpool threaten again, Robbie Fowler, they've scored again!
06:47Well, is league game number 13
06:50of the season going to be unlucky for Aston Villa?
06:52Robbie Fowler, who has a tremendous record
06:57against the club he faces today,
06:59hurts Aston Villa once more with a perfectly placed head up.
07:06Well, we've had two goals already,
07:08it could have been double that.
07:14But the facts of the matter,
07:16with seven minutes gone,
07:20it's Aston Villa, the league leaders, nil,
07:23Liverpool, two.
07:26Ince and Fowler, the scorers.
07:36Bab.
07:40That was Collymore on Harkness,
07:45and that may well have its roots
07:49in a rather stormy relationship between the two
07:53during this match back in February.
07:57This fixture,
08:00when there were allegations of comments by Harkness
08:04that Collymore complained about,
08:05that went to the players' union for sorting out.
08:11I think many of us have come here today
08:13and felt that we didn't want to be recalling those,
08:17but maybe it was in Collymore's mind
08:19the identity of his opponent here,
08:21because that was a very bad challenge on Steve Harkness,
08:24for which Collymore gets a yellow card,
08:26and it could have been worse than that.
08:35Look back at the earlier Fowler chance,
08:40with Owens' speed unsettling Villa,
08:44and Michael Oakes doing very well to keep that out.
08:49But moments later Fowler had his revenge.
09:05Well, a lengthy stoppage here.
09:09It's going to be as brought on as Harkness is carried to the dressing room.
09:35Fowler going in again.
09:37The goalkeepers missed it,
09:38but the referees have seen an infringement there.
09:46Michael Oakes coming out.
09:49I don't think he was fouled.
09:56Dublin beaten by Staunton.
09:59And it's Owen chasing and taking the chance.
10:03And denied.
10:06A third goal for Liverpool by Oakes' agility.
10:10There's no catching Michael Owen in these situations.
10:13He tried to catch Oakes off his line,
10:15but the goalkeeper got back and kept that out brilliantly.
10:18But Aston Villa being ripped apart here.
10:22And but for Michael Oakes,
10:24it could be 4-0.
10:27And we're still inside the first 15 minutes,
10:30and included a lengthy injury stoppage in that as well.
10:33Here's Berger.
10:38Redknapp.
10:41A touch there.
10:42Looked as though it would be enough,
10:44but it wasn't for Carragher.
10:46But again,
10:48Liverpool dominant in this Aston Villa penalty area.
11:00And here's Berger.
11:02Redknapp, Owen to the right.
11:04Berger going on through the centre,
11:06and not picked up.
11:09Well, another chance for Liverpool,
11:10and there have been plenty of them in this opening 35 minutes.
11:17Defensively, Aston Villa really haven't come to grips with their task today.
11:23Food for thought for John Gregory.
11:30The other way.
12:01Back it up!
12:07Aston Villa, nil, Liverpool 2.
12:10And here's Lee Henry trying to do something to help change that.
12:14Merson.
12:16He's made some space for himself.
12:17Dublin!
12:20Well, it hit the outside of the post, came back into play.
12:25And a player who's stuck so much recently
12:28into the back of opponents' necks.
12:30And Peter Jones says no penalty as Collymore goes down.
12:35Nothing for him.
12:36And seconds earlier, nothing for Dublin.
12:43One of the best Villa efforts so far.
12:50Fowler.
12:53Higgum.
12:54Trying to get round the outside.
12:55He's done that.
12:57Southgate tempted to put a foot up.
12:59Probably relieved in the end that he didn't make any contact.
13:06Merson did so well.
13:10Well, every striker will tell you some days they go in,
13:14and Dublin's had plenty of those days recently.
13:17And some days they don't.
13:26Trapper.
13:32Trapper.
13:38It's a kept-in-play by Higgum, but only to Villa's benefit.
13:41And they've got three out on the left-hand side.
13:43One of them, Henry, going on to the centre.
13:44Collymore!
13:45Oh, what a miss!
13:47Well, that really could have changed the complexion here.
13:51Six minutes before half-time,
13:53Aston Villa 2-0 down on their own ground.
13:57And Collymore, from very close range indeed,
14:00puts that header wide.
14:04Fowler.
14:06It's disappointing for Liverpool,
14:08who could have really
14:13given an even greater imprint on their first-half performance.
14:18When you think Liverpool came here having lost their
14:22last three games in the league,
14:25in all the competitions, they lost three at Anfield
14:29in just over a week.
14:32Not the sort of thing expected
14:35from that part of Merseyside.
14:38But Gerard Hullier and Phil Thompson, his new assistant,
14:41have got them
14:43well-prepared for what's expected of them today.
14:46It's been a very eventful first-half.
14:48So far, not Villa's day,
14:50but it's going very well for Liverpool
14:52at half-time at Villa Park.
14:53Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool.
15:03Southgate.
15:09Back to the Villa skipper again.
15:12Came off Higgum's head.
15:14Staunton did well.
15:16Against Hendrick.
15:19Very nearly caught in possession by Steve Watson in Dublin.
15:22Watson. Watson's early cross.
15:47Dublin trying to get there first.
15:48What a tremendous goal!
15:51Dion Dublin
15:53does it again.
15:55But today, will it be enough
15:58for Aston Villa?
16:02But listen to the
16:04noise here.
16:06They sense there's hope.
16:08This is his
16:09third game for Aston Villa, remember.
16:12And this is his sixth goal.
16:15Possibly the best of the lot.
16:21Bjorn B.
16:24Raito heads it clear.
16:26And it's a red-nap.
16:31Drill ball by Staunton.
16:33And right.
16:35Just back to the goalkeeper.
16:44Dublin.
16:46Able to be the focal point of the clearance again, but
16:49Raito gives it to Higgum.
16:51And suddenly Villa are stopped in their tracks.
16:53And Vegard Higgum
16:55carries the fight forward for Liverpool.
16:57And Fowler!
17:00Well, he is the
17:02scourge of Aston Villa, Robbie Fowler.
17:10He's restored the two-goal cushion.
17:20Higgum did well.
17:23And Fowler
17:26found the range again here at Villa Park.
17:36Apart from plotting against each other for this game, there's been an exchange of information
17:41between Aston Villa and Liverpool on another attack of
17:45the UEFA Cup.
17:46Celta Vigo knocked out Villa
17:49in the last round.
17:51And they're
17:53playing Liverpool
17:55in the next round.
17:57First leg in Spain on Tuesday.
18:05Dublin.
18:10It's booted away by
18:13Higgum.
18:15Winston deciding to let it drop, which might have been the
18:18wisest course. Well, he's got the throw.
18:22Merson.
18:23Colleymore
18:24is behind Staunton this time. Dublin's in the centre.
18:26And Dublin's going to get another one!
18:32Catch the ball and gets on with the game.
18:36Great set-up play by Villa.
18:39And Stan Colleymore
18:42picked the right pass.
18:45Dublin rather stumbled it into the net.
18:47But into the net it went.
18:50For his second, for Villa's second.
18:54And it's still very much game on.
19:02And it's still very much game on.
19:08John Gregory
19:10seemingly taking it all in his stride.
19:15Dion Dublin
19:18has given some hope again
19:21to the league leaders, at least
19:23at the start of the day, whether they will be
19:25at the finish of the day.
19:28Goodness knows it's
19:29a complicated scenario.
19:32And here come Liverpool again with Redknapp.
19:34Attack might be the best form of defence for them.
19:36Robbie Fowler
19:39has scored a hat-trick at Villa Park.
19:45And the Villa hang their heads again
19:49as Fowler
19:51punishes them again.
19:55Well, this is
19:57truly remarkable
19:58a personal contest between Dublin and Fowler
20:00it seems to be turning out to be.
20:04And it's Aston Villa 2, Liverpool 4.
20:10And Fowler, who's been
20:13unhappy, he's not been in the side on the
20:15sort of regular basis that he would expect.
20:17Of course, he's been picking his
20:20up his game again after a long absence
20:23for an injury that had gone away.
20:25And then after a long absence
20:27for an injury that occurred
20:29in the week that led up to
20:31Liverpool's last visit here in February.
20:34That was the first of many games he missed.
20:38He's back here on the big day again
20:40and putting in a big performance.
20:41And now Collymore, who was incidentally the last
20:44Villa player to be sent off
20:48and that's over a year ago.
20:50He's in danger of having to make the walk again.
20:55Peter Jones
21:00surrounded by Villa players who are
21:02trying to act for Collymore's
21:04defence.
21:15And Stan Collymore
21:17is sent off.
21:19Some might feel he should have gone
21:21for the incident that brought him
21:24his first yellow card.
21:26He reacted here to Michael Owen
21:29and
21:31left the referee with little alternative.
21:37A highly charged afternoon at Aston Villa.
21:46Thompson
21:48three ahead of him for Villa.
21:50And Joachim puts through.
21:53Penalty.
21:55Referee checks with an assistant.
22:00And
22:02David James
22:04is going to get a card here
22:06of some description.
22:07It's a yellow one.
22:10And
22:12David James
22:13is going to get a card here of some description.
22:14It's a yellow one.
22:20But Joachim
22:21within seconds of coming on.
22:27And they've had all sorts of penalty takers this season
22:29already Aston Villa.
22:32But stepping up
22:33to take this one
22:36is Dublin.
22:38Well a hat-trick last Saturday
22:41at
22:42Southampton.
22:45But he doesn't get a hat-trick here because James
22:48having given away the penalty
22:50saves it
22:51with a fantastic dive to his left.
22:56Well there's no end to the drama at Villa Park this afternoon.
23:00That's a wonderful penalty save.
23:08And Fowler who does have a hat-trick
23:10gets the ball away.
23:17Carl-Heinz Friedle comes on
23:19for Michael Owen.
23:25Oh yeah. Bad reaction from the Villa fans
23:27because they believe that
23:28Owen was involved in getting Colin Moore sent off.
23:31I think when they look at the replays they
23:32won't quite see it that way.
23:35Free kick given Villa's way.
23:37Taken quickly. Everything they do
23:39has got to be done quickly now.
23:42Merson
23:43with an early cross. Out comes James.
23:46Dublin makes it awkward for him.
23:48Still Dublin.
23:50Didn't have too much
23:52to aim at
23:53but he's disappointed.
23:55Yet again he didn't
23:57complete his hat-trick and
23:59bring Villa
24:00closer into the contest.
24:03And he'd earned the right for it
24:04with his challenge on James.
24:05He couldn't wrap his left foot right round the ball.
24:09Merson
24:10a bit more hopeful
24:13that time
24:14when he
24:15played with
24:18a cool head.
24:24Fowler gets his challenge in
24:26and gets the ball back for Liverpool.
24:33McAteer.
24:35Well 13 the unlucky number for Aston Villa.
24:39They're beaten in the league for the first time this season.
24:44And a final score
24:47is
24:48Aston Villa 2
24:49Liverpool 4.
24:52A season that began so brightly for Aston Villa
24:55continued in a downward trend thereafter
24:57and the team finally finished in 6th place.
24:59After their flying start
25:00they endured a run of 12 games
25:02without a victory
25:03including 10 defeats
25:04in the final 16 matches.
25:07Liverpool finished the season in 7th place
25:10which considering the amount of money they invested
25:12in the transfer market
25:14was a disappointment.
25:16The Reds away form was a major problem
25:18their total of 10 defeats on the road
25:20to the Champions League.