Anfield stunned by Villa 3-1 win at Anfield
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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.
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The score line speaks the truth.
You cannot have a sub standard team and expect superb results.
It is a wake up call for the manager.
Or else he can go home for the spanish sunshine.
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that chris feller would love to see this. -
Originally posted by Pentaxdude90: that chris feller would love to see this.
it seriously hurt him a lot deep down. dun think he will come to this thread lol. his team lose liao, he no face lar
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talk about tittle
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Originally posted by Shao Wei:
talk about tittle
liverpool is 6 points behind liao after 3 games. is it game over liao?
that kid must be crying in his sleep now, whole day spoilt by this defeat
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how is liverpool gonna win if they keep losing matches intentionally?
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even though its still too early to rule them out of contention but 2 losses in 3 games as compared to 2 losses in the whole of last season is really a bad sign.
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We should have seen this coming.
We were never good enough.
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LOL!!! another one of the big 4 down =/
Man utd and liverpool make alot of people lose money wor!!!
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Originally posted by Bo|2eDtoDeath:
LOL!!! another one of the big 4 down =/
Man utd and liverpool make alot of people lose money wor!!!
din expect villa to bounce back but nevertheless, great performance by them without barry. -
surprise...ver ysurprise!
that makes up the total number of games they losed last season!
and they only managed to clock in 2nd last season with that record!
though still early of the season, stats does not bode well for them, esp with the insurgency of spurs and man city.
that kinda makes up for a tougher 24 points to garner
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Well, you never know...this may be Liverpool's last defeat this season, although it's super very unlikely... :D
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I was expecting a 4-0 or 5-0 scoreline from liverpool, looking at how they recovered their form against stoke and how villa slumped to a bad start.
Then this morning log in soccernet, skali headline reads "Villa rock sorry liverpool".
I was like, hahahahahahahahahaha!!!
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This was really an unexpected result... I didn't bother to watch last night because I thought there was not even a chance or not even a 50% - 50% fight to be interesting... It was going to be a one way only game cos... It was at Anfield, and Pool hardly lose at home... Villa was like in a poor state of form recently... But I guess Rafa might be right afterall... This season, the big 4 could meet with unexpected defeats along the way... Cos the smaller clubs are also very strong...
Lets not pick on any individual here regardless of what they might have done, I hope we can just keep to the match discussion between the teams...
On another note... I think the problem could be Rafa?
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Originally posted by zocoss:
This was really an unexpected result... I didn't bother to watch last night because I thought there was not even a chance or not even a 50% - 50% fight to be interesting... It was going to be a one way only game cos... It was at Anfield, and Pool hardly lose at home... Villa was like in a poor state of form recently... But I guess Rafa might be right afterall... This season, the big 4 could meet with unexpected defeats along the way... Cos the smaller clubs are also very strong...
Lets not pick on any individual here regardless of what they might have done, I hope we can just keep to the match discussion between the teams...
On another note... I think the problem could be Rafa?
i think the problem is with lucas.
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RAFA BENITEZ blasted Steven Gerrard and Co after Liverpool's latest flop.
The Reds suffered their second league defeat in three games - having lost only twice last season.
Boss Benitez said: "Lucas scored an own goal but Gerrard gave away a penalty - and each player will have to analyse a lot of things.
"I took Lucas off but not because he was playing worse than the other players - I just wanted to change things and bring on other attackers.
"We made too many mistakes at crucial moments and we have to do more to win these games.
"The senior players have to take responsibility and use their experience."
After Lucas headed into his own net, Curtis Davies rose to power home No 2.
It came from a corner the Liverpool players angrily disputed, even though Steve Sidwell's shot clearly cannoned off Martin Skrtel.
Benitez said: "It doesn't matter whether it was a corner - we can't change the situation. We have lost and we have to improve."
Fernando Torres gave the Reds a lifeline but, two minutes later, Gerrard fouled Nigel Reo-Coker in the box and Ashley Young sealed Villa's win from the spot.
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Originally posted by knock-knock:
i think the problem is with lucas.
If Rafa keep selecting Lucas, then he is the problem lor... -
Originally posted by Cristiano@Red_Devils.com:
I was expecting a 4-0 or 5-0 scoreline from liverpool, looking at how they recovered their form against stoke and how villa slumped to a bad start.
Then this morning log in soccernet, skali headline reads "Villa rock sorry liverpool".
I was like, hahahahahahahahahaha!!!
Very funny huh? -
Originally posted by zocoss:
If Rafa keep selecting Lucas, then he is the problem lor...
True also. lol. but seems like no other choice currently if he wants to play this formation. -
i bet gerrard must be thinking.
*should have join chelsea*
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Originally posted by zocoss:
If Rafa keep selecting Lucas, then he is the problem lor...It is clearly Rafa's fault. You can't have the same system without Alonso...No one in the midfield who can deliver assist to the front two...Lucas doing the job???? Damn!!
Gerrard needs to move back to the midfield and plays 4-4-2
Reina
Johnson - Carra - Skrtel - Insua
Benayoun - Gerrard - Mascherano - El Zhar
Kuyt - Torres
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Originally posted by sg_forum:
It is clearly Rafa's fault. You can't have the same system without Alonso...No one in the midfield who can deliver assist to the front two...Lucas doing the job???? Damn!!
Gerrard needs to move back to the midfield and plays 4-4-2
Reina
Johnson - Carra - Skrtel - Insua
Benayoun - Gerrard - Mascherano - El Zhar
Kuyt - Torres
i couldnt agree more with u...
hope this is a wake up call for liverpool.
another way it when aquilani is ready, play him n gerrard as supporting to torres, mascherano as lone defensive MF.
oh well no point looking back at whats lost n lets look forward to the next match!
You'll Never Walk Alone
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Originally posted by sg_forum:
It is clearly Rafa's fault. You can't have the same system without Alonso...No one in the midfield who can deliver assist to the front two...Lucas doing the job???? Damn!!
Gerrard needs to move back to the midfield and plays 4-4-2
Reina
Johnson - Carra - Skrtel - Insua
Benayoun - Gerrard - Mascherano - El Zhar
Kuyt - Torres
Sad to say,this line up does not even look threatening in the first place,except for Gerrard and Torres. -
must have alonso la