Ings was tireless for 90 minutes and ran selflessly from one end of the pitch to the other, while Milner showed his leadership qualities as well as his technical abilities as he scored one and assisted Sturridge’s first goal.
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Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for striker Daniel Sturridge after the Reds battled past Aston Villa on Saturday afternoon.
And Lawrenson believes that the pair could prove to be a dominant duo in attack for his old club this season because both strikers are pacey.
Liverpool dominated possession but couldn’t find a victor against their League Two opponents, and the match went to penalties.
The manager has been heavily criticised by former players such as Jamie Carragher, Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard and there has been talk of Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp to take over at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers accused outsiders of trying to undermine him by claiming they are whipping up “hysteria” to try and get him sacked.
Milner is adamant that Liverpool’s form has not been as bad as their critics insist, arguing: “There are people giving criticism from outside the club but I think Manchester City have lost more games than us this season so it is so early in the season”.
Villa were happy to be only 1-0 down at half-time and even when Sturridge struck his first, a sumptuous left-foot volley, they did not crumble with Rudy Gestede bundling home a far-post cross. We are five points off the top so things change so fast in football. I want to score the goals that keep Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Liverpool V Aston Villa – view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.
“The Manchester United game we probably didn’t play like we know we can, and that’s more disappointing”.
However, he did eventually lead the team to a seventh place finish and the 2015 DFB-Pokal Final where they lost 3-1 to Wolfsburg. Sometimes we haven’t lost games and the hysteria around it is pretty clear.
“Obviously we expected it to be a different game, but as we know there is no easy game here in England”.
Lucas, who played the midfield holding role at Anfield on Saturday, thinks the belief the Reds gained from scoring three times can drive them forward as they bid to transform their season.
Rodgers added: “If you want to compete at the top of the league, you have to have big quality”.
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After a week of questions about his future, the three points allowed Rodgers to reflect on a player whose goals could come riding to his rescue.
