Source: Eurosport
Villa upset Liverpool at Anfield
LIVERPOOL (AFP) - An own goal by Brazilian Lucas, Curtis Davies' header and Ashley Young's penalty helped Aston Villa to a surprise 3-1 win over Liverpool, who pulled one back through Fernando Torres, at Anfield, on Monday.[LNB]Midfielder Lucas glanced Young's free kick into his own net 11 minutes before the interval and Davies made it two in added time.[LNB]Torres halved the deficit with 18 minutes left but after Steven Gerrard tripped Nigel Reo-Coker, Young made it three from the spot to make it two defeats from their opening three matches for the Reds.[LNB]It was also the first time since December 2007, when they were defeated 1-0 by Manchester United, that Liverpool were defeated in the Premier League at Anfield as Rafael Benitez's side's frustrations at home, where they drew seven matches last season, surfaced once again.[LNB]Liverpool piled forward from the start and Yossi Benayoun glanced a header wide from Torres' lob into the area with just 34 seconds gone.[LNB]But Villa should have taken the lead when Nicky Shorey's whipped cross was headed straight at Pepe Reina by the unmarked Davies.[LNB]In the ninth minute, it was Liverpool's turn to fail to take a string of chances as Torres and Benayoun scuffed shots before Steven Gerrard's effort was turned over by Brad Friedel.[LNB]The Reds continued to dominate and after patient possession around the edge of the area, Benayoun fed Gerrard, whose curling shot flew narrowly high and wide of Friedel's goal.[LNB]But 11 minutes before the interval, Villa took a shock lead with a free kick 30 yards from goal.[LNB]Young curled an apparently innocuous effort towards goal but it glanced off the head of Lucas and into the Liverpool net.[LNB]The Reds looked for an immediate response as Glen Johnson broke into the box and laid off for Torres, whose shot on the turn was pushed away by Friedel.[LNB]But Villa looked even more dangerous on the break and after a quick counter-attack, Nigel Reo Coker's low strike flew just wide of Reina's post.[LNB]Liverpool's frustrations were summed up when Javier Mascherano's harmless shot from 30 yards was held by Friedel.[LNB]And as Villa continued to take every chance to get forward, Steve Sidwell's cross was met by Shorey's header only for Reina to save.[LNB]Sidwell had a shot deflected wide off Skrtel and in first-half added time, Shorey's corner was headed in by Davies at the near post.[LNB]Benitez's side were full of fire after the restart and Johnson's impressive foot-work set up Gerrard, whose drive was pushed away by Friedel.[LNB]And the American goalkeeper did well again to block from a Mascherano block-buster as the Anfield side looked for a foot-hold in the game.[LNB]Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt then passed up a series of chances as Liverpool continued to pile forward.[LNB]He saw a header from Gerrard's corner pushed over by Friedel and then hit the post with another header after Villa failed to clear.[LNB]The Reds thought they had got back in the game with 18 minutes left when Torres guided Emiliano Insua's cross in off the bar.[LNB]But just a couple of minutes later, Villa restored their lead from the penalty spot.[LNB]As Reo-Coker burst into the area, he was tripped by Gerrard's despairing lunge and Young sent Reina the wrong way with a powerful set-piece to put Villa back in control.[LNB]Torres and Johnson both went close but Liverpool slipped to a miserable defeat.
