My personal match review will appear shortly. Until then here is the (biased? surely not, everybody loves Villa - especially those scouse tossers on Match of the Day) Carling net report

Liverpool survived the harsh-looking dismissal of former Villa favourite Steve Staunton to hold out for a goalless FA Carling Premiership draw against John Gregory's side, who huffed and puffed but seldom looked like breaking through.

Staunton was dismissed in the 31st minute for a second bookable offence when referee Rob Harris deemed he had encroached as Alan Thomspon ran in to take a free-kick on the edge of the Liverpool area. It continued the theme of recent matches between the clubs at Villa Park which have been shrouded in controversy. First there was the Stan Collymore-Steve Harkness racist row two years ago and then came Villa manager John Gregory's ``baby-faced assassin'' attack on Michael Owen last season - a claim he repeated this week.

Staunton certainly was entitled to feel hard done by in what was an unhappy afternoon for the Republic of Ireland international who had been unmercifully booed by the Villa fans before his dismissal. Harris, who had booked 16 players in his previous two Premiership games this season, brandished nine yellow cards in addition to the two delivered to Staunton.

But Villa struggled to capitalise on having the extra man advantage. Unsurprisingly they had the majority of the play territorially but they seldom looked convincing. The play is neat enough but Villa seemed to lack the creative spark in the centre of the park with too many players seeming unsure of what to do when having the ball at their feet. As a result Gregory's men only threatened spasmodically to make the vital breakthrough and the number of clear-cut chances was at a premium against the packed ranks of the Reds.

They had to rely on long range efforts and mistakes by the visitors for their few moments of genuine goalmouth excitement. Liverpool in the circumstances will be happy with a point and their whole defence deserves credit for being sharper and that yard quicker against the disappointing Dion Dublin and Julian Joachim. Villa were the first to settle and a mistake by Stephane Henchoz on his Premiership debut almost gifted the home side a 12th-minute lead.

The Swiss international was robbed in his own area by Joachim and Liverpool goalkeeper Sander Westerveld did well to block his shot. Westerveld again did well to tip a low and swerving 30-yard free-kick around the post when he might have been unsighted by one of his own defenders. Liverpool took time to get into their stride but a misdirected pass by Ian Taylor only found Vladimir Smicer who cut into the area and sent his shot across the face of goal.

Then came the Staunton red card for what, in the eyes of referee Harris, was his second bookable offence after he had been cautioned early on for a foul on George Boateng. Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier re-organised, bringing on Gerrard for Smicer and, despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors started to look more threatening. Owen almost conjured a goal out of nothing when he turned a free-kick from Patrik Berger just past the post.

The second half began in the same manner as the first with Villa in total ascendancy and almost being invited to break down Liverpool who often left Owen as the lone and isolated raider up front. Boateng looked certain to break the deadlock after he slid in on a Thompson centre but he somehow turned the ball back across goal rather than into the net. Westerveld, who seemed to regard the ball like a hot potato, punched out a header from Ugo Ehiogu after Joachim had flicked on a Boateng header.

Liverpool were now being seldom seen as an attacking force although Peter Enckelman was forced to turn a swerving free-kick from Jamie Redknapp around the post. Gregory brought on Paul Merson midway through the second period in the hope he would reproduce his match-winning performance as a substitute in Villa's last home league clash with Bradford. But it was too little, too late and Liverpool survived with relative comfort to boost their hopes of climbing away from the relegation zone.