Birmingham: Aston Villa made a mockery of the defending champions Liverpool humiliating them 7-2 in a Premier League game at the Villa Park. Jurgen Klopp set up his side in a 4-3-3 with second choice keeper Adrian in goal and Diogo Jota appearing in the front three.
The defending champions got hit early as a mistake from Adrian found Villa playmaker Jack Grealish who set it up for Olie Watkins to make no mistake in the fourth minute. Villa increased the lead on 22 minutes as Watkins again was found by Grealish and the striker slot home past Adrian into the top corner of the net. Liverpool quickly got one back as Mohamed Salah scored on the rebound in the 33rd minute.
Although Liverpool dominated the possession Villa went up whenever they got a chance on the counters. That eventually led to the third goal when John Mcginn’s deflected shot from a corner found it into the back of the net in the 35th minute.
Watkins finally completed his hat-trick four minutes later when a perfect cross from Trezeguet met the English striker who had just a simple tap-in to do. Things got worse for Liverpool in the second half as midfielder Ross Barkley’s attempted long range effort deflected from Trent Alexandar-Arnold’s boot to find it into the net making 5-1 for the home side in the 55th minute.
Liverpool reduced the margin, thanks to Salah once again on the hour mark before Villa made it 6-2 in the 67th minute through Grealish. The England international put the final nail in the coffin in the 76th minute making a dangerous run from the left side going on his own before slotting it past Adrian.
FACTS
It is the first time Liverpool have conceded seven goals since 1963 and is only their fourth Premier League defeat since January 3, 2019. Villa, who escaped relegation on the final day of last season, overtake them in the table with their best start since 1962.
Aston Villa have won their opening three league games to a season for the first time since the 1962-63 campaign.
This was the first time Liverpool have conceded seven goals in a match in all competitions since April 1963 in a 7-2 league defeat at Tottenham, while it was the second time Aston Villa have netted seven times in a single Premier League game, after a 7-1 win over Wimbledon in February 1995.
Liverpool are the first reigning English top-flight champions to ship seven goals in a league match since Arsenal against Sunderland in September 1953.
