Liverpool slumps to home defeat by Villa

• Source: Global Times
• [22:31 August 25 2009]
• Comments

Liverpool lost for the second time in three Premier League matches yesterday, slumping to a 3-1 home defeat by Aston Villa.

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel (in red) tackles the ball during its Premier League match against Aston Villa at Anfield yesterday. Photo: AFP

An own goal by Lucas Leiva and a glancing header from Curtis Davies gave Villa a 2-0 interval lead before Fernando Torres pulled one back for Liverpool in the 72nd minute.

Any hopes of a storming comeback were short-lived as Steven Gerrard rashly brought down midfielder Nigel Reo- Coker and Ashley Young beat keeper Pepe Reina from the penalty spot with 15 minutes remaining.

Liverpool, runners-up to Manchester United last season, has already lost as many matches as they did in the whole of the previous campaign. It was also their first league defeat at Anfield since December 2007 when they lost 1-0 to eventual league champion Manchester United.

“The first 20 minutes we were alright, but an own goal and another goal in (first half) extra time and then a penalty struck us when we were playing better and pushing hard, there were too many things against us,” Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez told the press.

“Everything could change. If we had a penalty in the first game against Tottenham, and to score early in this game just like what we did to Stoke, it could make a difference.”

“Anyway, we weren't playing well and we were giving the ball away against a team that is good on the counterattack and that was the difference.”

Despite being unable to strengthen in the transfer market, Benitez insisted that his current squad is good enough.

“With this squad we were winning a lot of games last year and we have to do the same this year.”

“I think that when you are losing you want to change and have to win. We lost against Tottenham and won against Stoke and we have to try to do the same against Bolton. It's the only way.”

“We were playing for one year (with the same formation) and took 86 points and now could be the same. It's a question of being more precise and scoring when we have chances.”

Villa, who for much of last season looked capable of a top-four finish before running out of steam, were booed off after losing to Wigan Athletic at home last week. But manager Martin O'Neill was delighted with their response.

“We put a big effort into the match, we defended very strongly and we broke. We are capable of scoring goals and we did that,” he said.

“I was staggered about what was going on (being booed). For us to get the abuse we got at halftime against Wigan, I don't think it was warranted.”

Liverpool dominated early but fell behind after 34 minutes when Young's free kick was headed into his own net by Lucas.

Worse was to follow on the stroke of half time when Davies lost his marker in the area to glance in a corner that Liverpool protested should not have been awarded.

The home side piled on the pressure in the second half and Dirk Kuyt hit the post with a header before Torres beat Villa keeper Brad Friedel with a sharp finish.

Gerrard's rush of blood to the head completed a miserable night for Liverpool as his tackle allowed Young to seal Villa's first league win at Anfield for eight years.

Agencies