Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool beat Aston Villa in a vital Premier League clash despite an ‘unbelievable’ performance from former Anfield ace Danny Ings, speaking via the Birmingham Mail.
It sums up the way things are going for Danny Ings at Villa Park that, when he did finally have the ball in the back of Alisson Becker’s net last night – rifling home a stunning finish on the angle – he’d made his initial run far too early. His celebrations cut short by an offside flag.
Before then, Ings had flashed a simple headed chance over the bar with Alisson in no man’s land.
He failed to beat the Brazil international one-on-one too after a super Ollie Watkins’ through ball. And his misfortune appeared to be contagious too. The ball rebounding agonisingly away from Carney Chukwuemeka after Alisson parried Ings’ effort back into the penalty area.
And, with that, one of the striker’s better performances since last summer’s £30 million from Southampton went un-rewarded.
Liverpool beat Aston Villa
“The boys were outstanding,” Klopp said after Joel Matip and the outstanding Sadio Mane cancelled out Douglas Luiz’s early opener. “They had to dig deep. Aston Villa, they obviously had moments.
“There were moments where we had to defend with in the six-yard box because of the quality of Villa. Ingsy unbelievable, Watkins and these kind of things. That’s tricky, but we did it.”
It’s difficult to know what to make of Ings’ debut season in claret-and-blue.
Seven goals in 27 Premier League games is not exactly the tally Aston Villa supporters were dreaming of when they paid £30 million for the England international less than 12 months ago.
On the other hand, if you were to combine Ings’ goal and assists (13), then the stats show he’s either scored or set up a goal in every other game he’s played for the Midland giants since last August.
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“I’m sure Danny is going to play one or two of those moments in his head on the way home,” Gerrard tells The Athletic after Villa’s first defeat since April 9th, against Tottenham Hotspur.
“But it was an outstanding performance. Danny has nothing to concern himself. He worked his socks off. As his manager, I’m delighted.”
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