Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC 1 Aston Villa 3 - final whistle match report
LIVERPOOL slumped to their second Premier League defeat in nine days against a resilient Aston Villa at Anfield.[LNB]Villa produced a defiant, organised display and deserved their first win at Anfield since 2001, which also ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home league record stretching back to December 2007, when Manchester United were the last winners at Anfield.[LNB]A Lucas own goal and a Curtis Davies header saw Villa 2-0 up at the break. Fernando Torres pulled one back but an Ashley Young penalty settled the points.[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 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 Jose 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]Against the run of play, Villa took the lead after 33 minutes when Lucas gave away a free-kick in midfield. 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 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.
