Aston Villa 0 Liverpool 2: Brendan Rodgers claims his team are almost back to their best

Misfiring pair Fabio Borini and Rickie Lambert on target

(Getty Images)

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers claimed his team were getting back to their best after they closed in on the Champions League spots with a 2-0 win at Aston Villa.

Fabio Borini's first Reds goal in almost two years and Rickie Lambert's strike extended the Merseysiders' unbeaten run to eight games in all competitions and lifted them to seventh place in the Barclays Premier League.

Rodgers believes they have moved on from their difficult start to the campaign, which saw them win just six of their opening 19 games.

"It was fair to say in the opening four months of the season we were nowhere near what we had been, so we needed to find a solution," he said.

"I had seen enough of the dynamic to see the side had enough going forward. We will always look to improve and the challenge is to improve.

"We're building towards the future and progressing really well. The team is performing at a good level and playing some wonderful football.

"If we can get through to the end of January, getting to the top four is still an objective.

"We could have had one or two more goals, but it was a tough game.

"The system is working very well for us. In my time here we've played a lot of different systems but this one is exciting. The players that we bring in are footballers anyway.

"The most important thing for me is the identity and style of the team."

Martin Skrtel also hit the post for Liverpool and defeat left Villa three points above the relegation zone, having not scored in eight hours and 42 minutes ahead of a daunting run.

They go to Arsenal and then host Chelsea - after facing Sky Bet Championship leaders Bournemouth in the FA Cup - in their next two league games.

Christian Benteke was denied by Simon Mignolet and Nathan Baker headed over in an improved performance, though, and manager Paul Lambert insisted they will keep fighting to end another season of struggle.

"It's been like this for four years - five years," the Scot said. "It's the same. You meet it head on and don't wilt under it.

"There's so many games and twists and turns in this league, you have got all that to go. Come the end of the season, you just have to make sure you're out of it.

"I thought in the second half we were excellent, we were relentless and the goalkeeper had a great second half.

"The goals will come. Carles Gil coming on was excellent, it was as good a debut as I have seen in a long time from a lad who probably doesn't know everyone's names yet."

A planned protest from Villa fans failed to make an impact as few were involved in boycotting the first eight minutes, to highlight their disappointment of chairman Randy Lerner's eight-year reign and Lambert's management.

Lambert added: "I never knew anything about it - the eight minutes thing against the chairman or even myself. As I said on Thursday, I didn't think it would help the team and I thought the fans were excellent.

"Okay, we lost the game and we're disappointed, but they were excellent. If it happened, it was only a handful."

PA