Liverpool 0-1 Aston Villa: Agbonlahor’s early strike sinks Reds at Anfield

Aston Villa shocked Liverpool with a 1-0 victory at Anfield thanks to Gabriel Agbonlahor’s early strike.

The Villans stand-in captain, who penned a new four-year contract with the Midlands club this week, netted the only goal of the game with a scrappy close-range finish as the Reds struggled to cope with the visitors’ set-pieces in the first-half.

Villa were disciplined but eventually conceded their share of the possession after the break, as Brendan Rodgers’ side piled forward in search of the equaliser.

And while the likes of Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling produced some late chances and Philippe Coutinho hit the post in the final ten minutes, Liverpool failed to really trouble American goalkeeper Brad Guzan as they slumped to their second defeat of the season.

It continues Villa manager Paul Lambert’s brilliant run on Merseyside, having never tasted defeat at Anfield in his managerial career.

Reds fans may point to Rodgers’ team selection as the reason behind the loss, with star man Raheem Sterling bizarrely starting on the bench.

The manager also handed Adam Lallana his Liverpool debut in his first game back from injury, with fellow summer signing Lazar Markovic given his first start while Mario Balotelli was in for the injured Daniel Sturridge.

And the England striker’s absence, after he picked up an injury on international duty, was intensely felt for the hosts.

Liverpool lacked the zing that saw them dominate Tottenham in a 3-0 victory in their last league outing, as a spritely Villa side started well.

There was an early scare for the Merseysiders as Alan Hutton slipped past Alberto Moreno and slid in a dangerous pass from the right, but fortunately for the hosts the impressive Dejan Lovren was alert with a last-ditch clearance.

Liverpool immediately rushed on the offensive at the other end, with Markovic connecting well with a volley but sending his effort high over the bar.

The Serbian youngster was the next to go close again for Liverpool, but glanced his header just wide of the post after a really good run from Javi Manquillo down the right.

But despite the Reds’ apparent recovery it was Agbonlahor who opened the scoring for the visitors inside ten minutes, the forward scrambling the ball into the back of the net following Liverpool’s poor attempt to defend from a corner.

The Reds continued to struggle to defend from set pieces and were soon given a huge wake-up call when the Villans saw a great chance go begging, centre-back Philippe Senderos planting a free header hopelessly over the bar from right in front of the goal.

Liverpool lacked attacking presence without Sturridge to spearhead their forward-three, with Balotelli spending more time on the floor in feigned pain than on the ball.

Lambert’s disciplined team frustrated the home side, with the likes of Lallana, Jordan Henderson and Coutinho scampering around the middle of the park trying to find a hole in Villa’s steadfast defence.

It was Lallana who went closest for the Reds in the first-half, his strike from outside the box just drifting wide after a good lay-off from Balotelli, who then let fly with a long-range effort which just looped over the bar.

After the break Liverpool upped the tempo and it seemed the side would get an attacking boost following Sterling’s eventual introduction on the hour-mark.

And it wasn’t long until Villa felt his presence on the wing, though the speedster then felt the presence of full-back Alan Hutton as the former Tottenham was handed a yellow card for a rash challenge on the forward.

Liverpool continued to probe and really pegged Villa back throughout the second-half, but still Lambert’s men, who defended in numbers, stood strong with a series of no nonsense clearances.

With Sterling unable to give Liverpool the necessary lift, Rodgers rolled the dice with 20 minutes left, Rickie Lambert replacing the ineffective Balotelli and Fabio Borini, who was close to leaving the club this summer, coming on for Markovic.

Both substitutes did prove more of a threat on the final stages, though Lambert’s lack of recent game-time perhaps showed with a few rusty touches in and around the box.

The last real chance to finally level came from Coutinho, who, after making room for himself with a series of twists and turns, aimed a curled effort on target which was deflected onto the post, with Sterling’s follow up blocked by team-mate Henderson.

It was a chance that perhaps typified Liverpool’s night, as Villa held out to record a brilliant three points.