Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 1 - match report

Chris Herd scored his first goal in an Aston Villa shirt as the claret and blues survived a frantic finish to earn a point against Liverpool at Anfield.

The Australian midfielder broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a composed finish from the edge of the penalty area but from that point forward Villa were penned in their own half.

Liverpool's pressure eventually told in the 82nd minute when Luis Suarez headed home from close range and Villa were indebted to keeper Shay Given who made a number of fine saves to deny the home side.

Boss Alex McLeish made two changes from the side which lost 4-2 to Chelsea as Emile Heskey came into the starting line-up to face his former club.

Alan Hutton was also declared fit after a recent calf problem with Gary Gardner and Andreas Weimann both dropped to the bench while Enda Stevens was named among the substitutes for the first time since he joined the club.

Liverpool carved out an opening in the eight minute when Villa old boy Stewart Downing skinned Hutton and delivered a dangerous low cross into the penalty area which picked out Dirk Kuyt but his close-range shot was saved by Given.

But Villa were a goal up two minutes later when Stephen Warnock, who started in a left-midfield berth, delivered a ball into the box from the left and Liverpool backup keeper Alexander Doni flapped at the cross.

The loose ball dropped to Barry Bannan on the right and he teed up Herd who produced a swept the ball past Doni from the edge of the penalty area.

Villa then retreated into their own half and proved difficult to break down although the visitors briefly threatened at the other end when Bannan's corner was met by James Collins but his weak header drifted wide.

Liverpool had a questionable shout for a penalty in the 39th minute when Suarez appeared to be clipped by Hutton after the Uruguay international had played a one-two with Kuyt but the contact was minimal.

The hosts had a golden opportunity to equalise just before the break when Suarez picked out Steven Gerrard at the back post and his cross-shot went into the path of Kuyt but the Dutch striker blazed over from a yard out when it appeared more difficult to miss than score.

Liverpool began the second half with purpose and Given showed great reactions shortly after the interval to claw the ball away when Suarez's header from Gerrard's cross rebounded back off the post

The home side were well on top as Villa packed midfield but the Reds struggled to convert their possession into meaningful goalscoring opportunities much to the frustration of the home fans.

Liverpool had a second appeal for a penalty turned down in the 67th minute when the ball struck Eric Lichaj but referee Michael Oliver ignored the pleas of the Kop.

Substitute Craig Bellamy went close for Liverpool with a rasping shot at the back post in the 78th minute and the hosts were back on level terms in the 82nd minute.

Bellamy's initial corner was cleared to Gerrard who curled the ball back into the box and Daniel Agger rose highest at the back post to head back across goal for Suarez to nod the ball home from a yard out.

Given was perfectly positioned to save an Andy Carroll header from a Gerrard cross three minutes from time while the Liverpool captain forced the Ireland international to save a powerful shot as Liverpool pressed for a winner but Villa's defence stood firm despite the heavy pressure.

By Timothy Abraham