Ghastly Reds walloped by WATKINS
TYPICAL Liverpool, stealing Manchester United’s headlines. After United’s surrender at Old Trafford this was even more astonishing — even more embarrassing — down the M6 at Villa Park.
By the time Tottenham sped by en route back to London after dissembling Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s United, Liverpool were already 4-1 down — brought to their knees by Ollie Watkins and the ineptitude of their own malfunctioning offside trap.
What is it about Liverpool and defending this season? Last year it was so often their failsafe. If their front three didn’t function the chances are that their back four would.
Now, only a matter of weeks on, the champions’ attempts to operate with a new, higher defensive line has left them shambolically vulnerable. Three conceded on day one against Leeds and now seven (yes, seven) here against a resurgent Villa, Liverpool’s title defence is already under threat from their own catastrophic negligence.
Next up it’s a trip to Premier League leaders Everton. With an international break upon us Jurgen Klopp will only have two days to sort things out when he eventually gets his players back. No pressure then.
Here Liverpool were ripped open with beautiful ease by Dean Smith’s fabulous and adventurous Villa. Every time they moved forward they looked as though they may score. Very often they did.
Summer signing Watkins may be sad that it’s Liverpool’s name and not his on the back pages this morning but that’s the way it works when the champions are humbled.
With Smith brave enough to play Jack Grealish and new loan signing Ross Barkley either side of his striker, he was rewarded wonderfully. Grealish was superb and gave Joe Gomez such a dreadful time the
Liverpool defender was taken off after an hour. Barkley, an Evertonian, was also excellent and scored a goal of his own in the second half.
A night when everything Villa touched turned to goal they had some luck too. Three of their goals were helped in by Liverpool deflections. But this was a landmark win they very much deserved. Were they five goals better than Liverpool? Over the course of a remarkable game they probably were.
Liverpool had plenty of possession but without the ball they were unfathomably and pathetically bad, stuck rigid in self-harm mode from the off.
For example, the first goal came from a decisive pass supplied by Liverpool’s own goalkeeper Adrian. Trying to find Gomez across his own penalty area in the fourth minute he gave Grealish the ball and when the Villa captain supplied Watkins on the six-yard line he swept it in.
Already the tone of the evening was set. Liverpool were ghastly and Villa ruthless enough to take advantage.
Moments later it could have been two as Gomez misjudged a long ball, Grealish sped away to supply Barkley and the Chelsea loanee missed hurriedly from close range. A chance to rue? Yes, certainly. Decisive? Not at all. His moment was to come.
Liverpool came hard at Villa for 15 minutes and Roberto Firmino was denied twice by goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
But just as it appeared Liverpool were settling, Villa scored again in the 23rd minute. Once again Grealish upset the Liverpool right edge and when he fed Watkins, the 24-year-old eased inside Gomez and lifted the ball high into the net with his right foot. It was a super finish and indicative of real quality.
Barkley was wide again soon after and then another offside trap malfunction allowed him to run down the right and bring a save from Adrian at his near post.
A goal from Salah in the 33rd minute brought Liverpool back in to the game. Surely that would give them a platform for recovery at 2-1? Not a bit of it. McGinn’s volley from a cleared corner three minutes later struck Virgil van Dijk on the foot and flew in to the net.
Van Dijk has not started the season well — that’s an understatement — and erred again as half-time neared. His rash tackle on Barkley prompted a booking and from the free-kick Liverpool’s defence melted away to allow
Watkins his hat-trick header. By now Liverpool’s best defensive option was to put their arms in the air and pray for VAR assistance. It never came and, needing a fast start to the second half, they did score when Firmino played Salah through on the hour.
Unfortunately, either side of that were goals for Barkley and Grealish, both deflected in from distance. Then, with a quarter of an hour left, McGinn played Grealish clear with a stunning pass and that was No 7.
Klopp was generous enough to applaud Smith before shaking hands at the end. Suffice to say, this was not Liverpool’s night. Defend like this again and it very rarely will be.
ASTON VILLA (4-3-2-1): Martinez 6.5; Cash 6.5 (El Mohamady 80min), Konsa 6.5, Mings 7, Targett 7; Trezeguet 7 (Traore 87), Luiz 7 (Nakamba 80), McGinn 8; Barkley 8.5, Grealish 8.5; WATKINS 9. Subs not used: Steer, Hourihane, El Ghazi, Davis. Scorers: Watkins 4, 22, 39, McGinn 35, Barkley 55, Grealish 66, 75. Booked: Luiz, Nakamba. Manager: Dean Smith 9. LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Adrian 4; Alexander-Arnold 5, Van Dijk 4, Gomez 3 (Jones 61, 5), Robertson 5; Keita 5.5 (Minamino 46, 5.5), Fabinho 5, Wijnaldum 5; Salah 7, Firmino 6 (Milner 68, 6), Jota 6. Subs not used: Kelleher, N Williams, Henderson, Origi. Scorer: Salah 33, 60. Booked: Van Dijk. Manager: Jurgen Klopp 4. Referee: Martin Atkinson 6.