Source: SKY_Sports
Villa rock Reds at Anfield
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} Aston Villa put another dent in Liverpool's title dreams with a hard-fought 3-1 victory at Anfield.[LNB] Lucas Leiva suffered the indignity of putting through his own net to open the scoring, before Curtis Davies doubled Villa's lead moments before the break.[LNB]Fernando Torres did pull one back for the hosts, but Ashley Young rounded off the scoring from the penalty spot.[LNB]Liverpool dominated much of the opening exchanges, but fell behind after 34 minutes when an ambitious free-kick from Young cannoned off Lucas and past a stranded Pepe Reina.[LNB]The Reds were then the architects of their own downfall once again on the stroke of half-time as they failed to pick up Davies from a corner and he glanced a header in off the underside of the bar.[LNB]Torres then offered Rafa Benitez's side a lifeline on 72 minutes, as he coolly rounded of a well-worked move down the left.[LNB]However, Steven Gerrard felled Nigel Reo-Coker in the box three minutes later and Young sent Reina the wrong way from the spot.[LNB]SpotlightThe result ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home league record stretching back to December 2007, when Manchester United were the 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 by losing more than five games in a season, and Liverpool's hopes could already have suffered a mortal blow.[LNB]Liverpool produced a vibrant start, but found themselves frustrated by the quick-tackling, quick-thinking Villa midfield.[LNB]The hosts could have been ahead in the first minute when Yossi Benayoun's back-header from Torres' chip into the area, beat Brad Friedel but dropped inches wide.[LNB]A taste of what was to follow came from Villa's first chance came when Davies met a Nicky Shorey cross with a strong header, but it went straight at Reina.[LNB]Torres and Steven Gerrard both saw shots blocked in the six-yard box, before Young was booked after 12 minutes for halting a Dirk Kuyt run.[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]FortunateJavier Mascherano and Lucas were both fortunate not to be cautioned for fouls on Stiliyan Petrov and Gabriel Agbonlahor in quick succession.[LNB]Torres was also coming in for some rough treatment from Carlos Cuellar, two tackles from behind going unpunished by referee Martin Atkinson.[LNB]By now Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell were successfully breaking up 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-kick in midfield. [LNB]Young swung the set-piece towards the near post, and it was the unfortunate Lucas who rose to head the ball past Reina for an own-goal.[LNB]Liverpool's play was sloppy and far too much possession was being conceded with ill-directed passes.[LNB]Further calamity came after Reina was booked in first half injury time for kicking the ball away in annoyance when referee Martin Atkinson awarded a disputed corner, 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. Reo-Coker was booked for kicking the ball away, and Friedel produced a fine save from a Kuyt header.[LNB]ResilienceKuyt 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, with 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][LNB]LiverpoolTeam StatisticsAston Villa1Goals301st Half Goals211Shots on Target48Shots off Target15Blocked Shots310Corners414Fouls111Offsides33Yellow Cards20Red Cards083.5Passing Success70.421Tackles2376.2Tackles Success65.267.9Possession32.158.4Territorial Advantage41.6
