ROY HODGSON believes Liverpool’s “limp is getting better” as he saluted a team performance that ensured Gerard Houllier a miserable return to Anfield.

First-half goals from makeshift strikeforce David Ngog and Ryan Babel, along with a Maxi Rodriguez effort shortly after half-time, secured Hodgson’s men a 3-0 win over Aston Villa last night.

The victory came despite Liverpool being without Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher for the first time in a Barclays Premier League game since the Spaniard arrived at the club in the summer of 2007.

Hodgson’s men have now moved up to eighth place in the table, just four points adrift of the European qualification places.

And the manager believes last night’s triumph – their fifth in succession at home – is a further sign of Liverpool’s improvement.

“We shot ourselves in the foot really (earlier in the season), so we are still limping,” said the 63-year-old. “But the limp is getting better. The structure of the team was good and this was a comfortable victory.

“The most pleasing aspect was the team effort. The shape of the team was good throughout. We attacked and defended well as a team.

“In every win there are good individual performances but I think it was a triumph of team work rather than individual brilliance.