LIVERPOOL'S three defensive howlers left them with two defeats from their first three Premier League games.


A Lucas own goal and a header from Curtis Davies - when he easily beat two Reds to a near-post corner - rewarded Villa's first-half resilience against non-stop Liverpool raids.

Fernando Torres finally sidefooted Rafa Benitez's eager home side back into it home on 72 minutes.

But Steven Gerrard rashly tripped Nigel Reo-Coker just two minutes later, enabling Ashley Young to tuck home Villa's penalty clincher.

Villa chief Martin O'Neill said: "I couldn't be more pleased. We put everything in to it. Not just effort but skill too."

Gerrard and Torres had missed in an amazing goalmouth flurry as Liverpool raided quickly and often early on.

But they never quite passed the ball as incisively or inventively as title-chasers should do.

Kuyt, Gerrard and Torres wasted a host of opportunities between them.

And Villa keeper Brad Friedel made several decent saves.

But generally Villa's impressive defensive show frustrated the home team more and more.

O'Neill's grafters denied Liverpool room in the final third, snapping and harrying at the heels of Torres, Gerrard, Kuyt and Co.

And the Reds' shock defeat left them six points behind both Spurs and Chelsea, as well as three adrift of Arsenal and Manchester United.


Villa hero Davies said: "They threw everything at us in ther first 15 minutes but battled well after that."

And the centre-back admitted of his goal: "I wasn't even going to come up for the corner - until the last minute. Obviously I'm glad I did." Sun

Looking bad: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard shows his dejection at another missed chance at Anfield Photo: EPA


Double up: Curtis Davies celebrates his headed goal on the cusp of half-time Photo: GETTY IMAGES


Head start: Aston Villa celebrate Lucas' unfortunate own goal which gave Martin O'Neill's side the lead Photo: PA


Team work: James Milner and Ashley Young celebrate Aston Villa's opening goal at Anfield Photo: REUTERS