Source: Telegraph
Liverpool halted by 'terrific' Brad Friedel as Aston Villa win at Anfield
Villa ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten league home record to secure their first victory of a season that has seen them lose to Wigan in the league and Rapid Vienna in the Europa League play-off.
But Friedel, back at his former club, stopped virtually everything that Liverpool could throw at him.
Villa manager O'Neill said: "That was a terrific effort from my team. At 2-0 we were in reasonable command of the game, although you are never in command at Anfield.
"But when they scored we got a penalty straight-away, a clean penalty, and we were back with our two goal lead.
"That gave us confidence, discipline and shape to our team and we deserved to win.
"Brad Friedel was outstanding. He rolled back the years. He was fantastic against his old club to perform like that at Anfield.
"He will be delight with himself, and rightly so, and we are delighted with him.
"It was a fantastic performance from the whole side and we fully deserved the victory."
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez condemned his players for "too many mistakes" as they slumped to their second Barclays Premier League defeat in nine days.
Beaten at Spurs on the opening weekend, they recovered to over-power Stoke in midweek, only to slump to this disheartening home defeat.
And the reverse already puts in doubt Liverpool's title aspirations. They only lost two league games last season, now they have equalled that tally in the opening days of the new campaign.
Benitez said: "In the first 20 minutes we created plenty of chances and played well. Then we conceded the own goal and started to make more mistakes.
"We have lost and we know we have to improve. I felt we had a chance when Fernando Torres scored, but the penalty finished it. It was a clear penalty.
"We now know that we have to go to Bolton on Saturday and win. Everything could change if we do that, our confidence will improve."
Villa were two-up at the break through a Lucas own goal and a header from Curtis Davies. Torres pulled one back in the second-half, but Steven Gerrard's lunge at Nigel Reo-Coker conceded a spot-kick that Ashley Young confidently drove home.
Benitez said: "We were not playing well, and we were up against a team who are excellent on the counter-attack.
"Their keeper made some great saves, but when that happens we just have to make more chances.
"This squad is virtually the same as last season, so I believe it is good enough to mount a title challenge. But we must do more, we must win at Bolton.
"We will have to sit down and analyse every player now, and make sure we do the right things in our next match. But our senior players must take more responsibility."
