Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3: On song Villa ambush Anfield to increase Rafa Benitez's woes
Liverpool slumped to their second Premier League defeat in nine days to put their title credentials firmly on the line.[LNB]Aston Villa produced a defiant, organised display and deserved their first win at Anfield since 2001.[LNB]The result also ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home leaguerecord stretching back to December 2007, when Manchester United werethe last winners at Anfield.[LNB]But the spotlight will now be on Liverpool, who only lost twice in the league last season and still did not win the title.[LNB]The margin for error is now very fine. You rarely win the crown bylosing more than five games in a season, and Liverpool's hopes couldalready have suffered a mortal blow.[LNB]A Lucas own goal and a Curtis Davies header saw Villa 2-0 up at thebreak. Fernando Torres pulled one back but an Ashley Young penaltysettled the points.[LNB] Breakthrough: Villa celebrate their opener at Anfield[LNB]Martin Skrtel returned to Liverpool's defence in place of teenagerDaniel Ayala, having recovered sufficiently from a jaw injury to berisked.[LNB]This was the only change in the Liverpool side from the one thatbeat Stoke at home last week, with new Greek defender SotiriosKyrgiakos not included in the squad.[LNB]Villa included Curtis Davies, who had recovered from a shoulderinjury. Brad Friedel, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stiliyan Petrov allreturned to the side after being rested in the Europa League defeataway to Rapid Vienna last week. [LNB]Liverpool produced a vibrant start, but found themselves frustrated by the quick-tackling, quick-thinking Villa midfield[LNB]No way through: Fernando Torres is muscled off the ball by Stiliyan Petrov on a frustrating night for the Spaniard[LNB]The hosts could have been ahead in the first minute when YossiBenayoun's back-header from Torres' chip into the area, beat Friedelbut dropped inches wide.[LNB]A taste of what was to follow came from Villa's first chance camewhen Davies met a Nicky Shorey cross with a strong header, but it wentstraight at Jose Reina.[LNB]Torres and Steven Gerrard both saw shots blocked in the six-yardbox, before Young was booked after 12 minutes for halting a Dirk Kuytrun.[LNB]Then Gerrard struck a first-timer from 20-yards just over from Kuyt's touched pass.[LNB]But Liverpool's problems were beginning to mount in a midfield that they were unable to dominate.[LNB] Kop that: Curtis Davies gets in front of the Liverpool defence to head Villa's second and celebrates in style (below)[LNB] [LNB] [LNB]Javier Mascherano and Lucas were both fortunate not to be cautioned for fouls on Petrov and Agbonlahor in quick succession.[LNB]Torres was also coming in for some rough treatment from CarlosCuellar, two tackles from behind going unpunished by referee MartinAtkinson.[LNB]By now Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell were successfully breakingup Gerrard's flow in midfield, and Villa were soon to take the lead.[LNB]It came after 33 minutes when Lucas gave away a needless free-kickin midfield. Young swung the set-piece towards the near post, and itwas the unfortunate Lucas who rose to head the ball past Reina for anown-goal.[LNB]Liverpool's play was sloppy and far too much possession was being conceded withill-directed passes.[LNB] Further calamity came after Reina was booked in first half injury time forkicking the ball away in annoyance when referee Atkinson awarded a disputedcorner, Sidwell's shot looking to have clipped a defender.[LNB]And from that disputed corner Villa found themselves two up. Shorey's corner swung into the near post and was headed home by Davies.[LNB]The hosts have staged some amazing comebacks in this stadium over the years, and they were going to need another massive performance to salvage anything from this situation.[LNB]Villa defended with organisation and desire. Roe-Coker was booked for kicking the ball away, and Friedel produced a fine save from a Kuyt header.[LNB]Kuyt then saw another header hit a post from a Gerrard corner from the left.[LNB]But Villa were still showing great resilience, and breaking quickly to cause Liverpool all sorts of problems at the back, Reo-Coker being only inches away from a third with one sliding attempt.[LNB]Liverpool sent on Andriy Voronin for Lucas after 66 minutes, with Friedel producing another fine stop from a Gerrard drive soon after.[LNB]But after 72 minutes Liverpool finally gave themselves some hope when Emiliano Insua got down the left and rolled the ball into the six-yard box for Torres to score.[LNB]Two minutes later Liverpool were back in despair and Villa celebrating. Shorey's pass into the path of Reo-Coker saw the midfielder surge into the box only to be felled by Gerrard's desperate tackle.[LNB]It was a clear penalty and Young stepped up to restore Villa's two-goal lead.[LNB]Liverpool's frustration was obvious. Torres was booked for dissent when Young went down injured and asked for treatment. He was eventually replaced by Heskey.[LNB]Ryan Babel came on for Benayoun, Liverpool still coming forward. Friedel again made a fine save from a Torres flick, before Kuyt sent a close range effort wide of the far post.[LNB]The outstanding Friedel, against his former club, saved from Torres and Glen Johnson, with Skrtel booked in the dying minutes, but Villa held on for a famous victory.[LNB] Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3: the action as it happenedLIVERPOOL FC
