Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3: On song Villa ambush Anfield to increase Rafa Benitez's woes

Liverpool slumped to their second Premier League defeat in nine days to put their title credentials firmly on the line.Aston Villa produced a defiant, organised display and deserved their first win at Anfield since 2001.The result also ended Liverpool's 31-match unbeaten home leaguerecord stretching back to December 2007, when Manchester United werethe last winners at Anfield.But the spotlight will now be on Liverpool, who only lost twice in the league last season and still did not win the title.The margin for error is now very fine. You rarely win the crown bylosing more than five games in a season, and Liverpool's hopes couldalready have suffered a mortal blow.A Lucas own goal and a Curtis Davies header saw Villa 2-0 up at thebreak. Fernando Torres pulled one back but an Ashley Young penaltysettled the points. Breakthrough: Villa celebrate their opener at AnfieldMartin Skrtel returned to Liverpool's defence in place of teenagerDaniel Ayala, having recovered sufficiently from a jaw injury to berisked.This was the only change in the Liverpool side from the one thatbeat Stoke at home last week, with new Greek defender SotiriosKyrgiakos not included in the squad.Villa included Curtis Davies, who had recovered from a shoulderinjury. Brad Friedel, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stiliyan Petrov allreturned to the side after being rested in the Europa League defeataway to Rapid Vienna last week. Liverpool produced a vibrant start, but found themselves frustrated by the quick-tackling, quick-thinking Villa midfieldNo way through: Fernando Torres is muscled off the ball by Stiliyan Petrov on a frustrating night for the SpaniardThe hosts could have been ahead in the first minute when YossiBenayoun's back-header from Torres' chip into the area, beat Friedelbut dropped inches wide.A taste of what was to follow came from Villa's first chance camewhen Davies met a Nicky Shorey cross with a strong header, but it wentstraight at Jose Reina.Torres and Steven Gerrard both saw shots blocked in the six-yardbox, before Young was booked after 12 minutes for halting a Dirk Kuytrun.Then Gerrard struck a first-timer from 20-yards just over from Kuyt's touched pass.But Liverpool's problems were beginning to mount in a midfield that they were unable to dominate. Kop that: Curtis Davies gets in front of the Liverpool defence to head Villa's second and celebrates in style (below) Javier Mascherano and Lucas were both fortunate not to be cautioned for fouls on Petrov and Agbonlahor in quick succession.Torres was also coming in for some rough treatment from CarlosCuellar, two tackles from behind going unpunished by referee MartinAtkinson.By now Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell were successfully breakingup Gerrard's flow in midfield, and Villa were soon to take the lead.It came after 33 minutes when Lucas gave away a needless free-kickin midfield. Young swung the set-piece towards the near post, and itwas the unfortunate Lucas who rose to head the ball past Reina for anown-goal.Liverpool's play was sloppy and far too much possession was being conceded withill-directed passes. Further calamity came after Reina was booked in first half injury time forkicking the ball away in annoyance when referee Atkinson awarded a disputedcorner, Sidwell's shot looking to have clipped a defender.And from that disputed corner Villa found themselves two up. Shorey's corner swung into the near post and was headed home by Davies.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.Villa defended with organisation and desire. Roe-Coker was booked for kicking the ball away, and Friedel produced a fine save from a Kuyt header.Kuyt then saw another header hit a post from a Gerrard corner from the left.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.Liverpool sent on Andriy Voronin for Lucas after 66 minutes, with Friedel producing another fine stop from a Gerrard drive soon after.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.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.It was a clear penalty and Young stepped up to restore Villa's two-goal lead.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.Ryan Babel came on for Benayoun, 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.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. Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3: the action as it happenedLIVERPOOL FC

Source: Daily_Mail