Aston Villa end Liverpool's unbeaten run at home

Sports - Football - Premier League - Liverpool 1-3 Aston Villa

Liverpool experienced a frustrating defeat against Aston Villa at Anfield, ending their unbeaten run at home of over 30 matches.

The Reds dictated most of the match with over two thirds of the possession, over twenty attempts, half of which were on target. Aston Villa were kept more than busy and pushed back into their territory for most of the match.

A mis-hit by Fernando Torres led to a scramble in the Villa box, Yossi Benayoun ending up being denied and so too Steven Gerrard, foiled by Brad Friedel's feet. That was just one of many scrambles and misses for Liverpool, chance after chance they scrapped, slipped and looked clumsy at times.

Villa played a classic counter attacking game, their goalkeeper Friedel and defence, Curtis Davies especially, starring most and shining solid. When they won a free kick left wide outside Liverpool's box just part the half-hour mark, they made use of that rare chance of pressure and attack. Lucas Leiva headed the ball into his own net, changing the score against the run of play.

Just before halt time, the game turned even further on its head and more misery was piled onto the Reds. Liverpool's zonal marking strategy failed once again when Davies headed Nicky Shorey's corner into the right corner of the net, past Torres and Jamie Carragher. That made it 0-2 to Aston Villa at half time and left Anfield stunned, in disbelief after all their side's dominance and chances.

In the second half, Liverpool kept the upper hand, control and dominance of the game and play but not of the score line. Torres finally got a goal back, a free hit for the home side with just under 20 minutes to go.

But just minutes later, the game saw another twist, with an unlikely villain, Gerrard conceding a penalty after he brought down Nigel Reo-Coker inside the box. Ashley Young converted from the spot, sending Pepe Reina the wrong way and Liverpool onto the wrong side of the scoreboard and into turmoil after their second defeat out of just three games played so far in the new season.

Liverpool Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Insua; Mascherano, Lucas (65 Voronin), Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun (74 Babel); Torres. Subs not used Cavalieri, Riera, Kelly, Dossena, Ayala. Bookings 47 Reina, 77 Torres, 88 Skrtel.

Aston Villa Friedel; Beye, Davies, Cuellar, Shorey; Milner, Sidwell, Petrov, Reo-Coker; Young (79 Heskey), Agbonlahor. Subs not used Guzan, Albrighton, Delfouneso, Delph, Gardner, Lowry. Bookings 12 Young, 57 Reo-Coker.

1st half stats: Liverpool-Aston Villa
Attempts: 9-5
On target: 5-3
Offsides: 0-2
Corners: 2-3
Free kicks: 5-7

2nd half stats: Liverpool-Aston Villa
Attempts: 14-1
On target: 7-1
Offsides: 1-1
Corners: 5-1
Free kicks: 4-5

Referee: Martin Atkinson