Villa cruise to 3-1 shock win at Liverpool

Aug 24, 2009 - 10:52 PM By GEOFF McALLISTER STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez refused to panic after seeing his side's hopes of a first league title in twenty years dealt another blow by Monday's 3-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa.

Strikes from Curtis Davies, Ashley Young and Lucas's own goal condemned Liverpool to a shock first home league defeat in 31 games.

The Reds lost only two league games in the whole of last season but have already lost two of their opening three matches.

Benitez said: "It was a frustrating night because we had our chances and did not take them but we made important mistakes at crucial times.

"The players were trying but because we did not score an early goal it was difficult. It is difficult to explain.

"This season is different from last year. We can change things for the next game and we will see what happens."

Villa were thrashed 5-0 on their last visit to Merseyside and Liverpool looked in the mood to inflict another drubbing as they laid siege to the visitors' goal in the opening minutes.

Yossi Benayoun should have opened the scoring inside the first thirty seconds after Brad Friedel flapped at Fernando Torres's cross but the Israeli put a glancing header narrowly wide.

Villa were fortunate not to concede following a goalmouth scramble in the ninth minute.

Torres's shot was deflected to the feet of Benayoun, who failed to make clean contact six yards out, and Steven Gerrard's follow up effort was somehow kept out by the legs of Friedel.

Anfield was stunned into silence in the 34th minute as Villa, who had won only one of their previous 21 meetings with Liverpool, took a shock lead.

Young's 25-yard free kick looked to be heading straight into the arms of goalkeeper Pepe Reina until Brazilian midfielder Lucas inexplicably headed the ball into the corner of his own net.

The key moment of the night came on the stroke of half time when Villa were awarded a corner after Steve Sidwell's shot deflected off Martin Skrtel.

Reina received a yellow card for furiously booting the ball away in protest at referee Martin Atkinson's decision to allow Villa to take the corner despite it being 40 seconds over the allotted one minute of stoppage time.

Benitez also made his feelings known from the dugout and the hosts' misery was compounded when Davies took advantage of some slack zonal marking to nod home Nicky Shorey's centre at the near post.

Torres gave Liverpool hope 18 minutes from time by side-footing Emiliano Insua's cross into the roof of Fridel's net for his second goal of the season.

Any thoughts of a late comeback were dashed only three minutes later when Gerrard needlessly hacked down Nigel Reo-Coker, leaving referee Atkinson with no choice but to point to the spot.

Young had missed his last spot kick at Arsenal last season but had no hesitation in stepping up to smash the ball into the bottom left corner.

Villa boss Martin O'Neill said: "We got off to a sluggish start on the opening day and to come and win here against one of three championship favourites is a terrific effort. We deserved to win."