Liverpool slumped to their second Premier League defeat in nine
days as they lost 3-1 to Aston Villa to put their title credentials
firmly on the line.
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 league
record stretching back to December 2007, when Manchester United
were the 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
by losing more than five games in a season, and Liverpool's hopes
could already have suffered a mortal blow.
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.
Martin Skrtel returned to Liverpool's defence in place of
teenager Daniel Ayala, having recovered sufficiently from a jaw
injury to be risked.
This was the only change in the Liverpool side from the one that
beat Stoke at home last week, with new Greek defender Sotirios
Kyrgiakos not included in the squad.
Villa included Curtis Davies, who had recovered from a shoulder
injury. Brad Friedel, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Stiliyan Petrov all
returned to the side after being rested in the Europa League defeat
away to Rapid Vienna last week.
Liverpool produced a vibrant start, but found themselves
frustrated by the quick-tackling, quick-thinking Villa
midfield.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 Carlos
Cuellar, two tackles from behind going unpunished by referee Martin
Atkinson.
By now Nigel Reo-Coker and Steve Sidwell were successfully
breaking up 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-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.
Liverpool's play was sloppy and far too much possession was
being conceded with ill-directed passes.
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.
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.
