Villa stun Reds

24 August 2009 22:04
Aston Villa ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home league record with a deserved 3-1 victory at Anfield.[LNB] They were two ahead at half-time through a Lucas own goal, and a Curtis Davies header seconds from the break.[LNB] Fernando Torres pulled one back from close range, but an Ashley Young penalty soon after claimed the Midlanders' first win at Anfield since 2001.[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] A taste of what was to follow came from Villa's first chance when Davies met a Nicky Shorey cross with a strong header, but it went straight at Jose Reina, while Torres and Steven Gerrard had efforts blocked. [LNB] Villa opened the scoring after 33 minutes when Lucas gave away a needless 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] Then, from that disputed corner, Villa found themselves two up. Shorey's cross swung into the near post and was headed home by Davies just before the break. [LNB] Dirk Kuyt then hit a post 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.

Source: Eurosport