Liverpool slumps to Villa at Anfield

  Gabriel Ag­bonlahor’s ninth minute goal gave Aston Villa victory at the Anfield yesterday as Liverpool fell to its second defeat of the Premier League season. Lazar Markovic had an early sight of goal for the home side when he met Javier Manquillo’s cross before flicking the ball wide of the far post. Villa had
the chance to double its lead when Philippe Senderos got on the end of Ashley West­wood’s free kick, but the defender could only place his header over the bar. The hosts struggled to create chances, but Adam Lallana came close to finding the net moments before half time when   he fired a strike just wide off the post, before Mario Balotelli saw a powerful effort deflect over the bar.After the break, Balo­telli and Jordan Hender­son both headed over as Liverpool pressed for a way back into the match. Philippe Coutinho came within inches of equalising for the Reds as the game entered the final 10 minutes, but his curling effort came crash­ing back off the post with Brad Guzan left stranded. Liverpool laid siege to the opponents’ goal in the closing stages, but Villa managed to hold on to extend its unbeaten run at Anfield to four seasons.