Gallant Villa wallop champions Liverpool 7-2

Premier League champions Liverpool fell to a shocking 7-2 defeat against Aston Villa on Sunday, their first defeat of the campaign.

Ollie Watkins scored a first-half hat trick as Villa stormed to a 4-1 lead at the interval with John McGinn having scored the other after Mohamed Salah had temporarily reduced the deficit to 2-1.

Liverpool were without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson due to a shoulder injury and paid the price for some shambolic defending at Villa Park, with John McGinn adding to Watkins’ treble in a rampant opening period for Dean Smith’s men.

Mohamed Salah doubled his tally either side of deflected goals for debutant Ross Barkley and Grealish, who contributed three assists in a brilliant display.

Grealish added another as Villa had unending joy in springing the offside trap against Liverpool’s high line, with the Reds conceding seven for the first time since a 7-2 loss to Tottenham in April 1963.

Adrian’s hopes of keeping a clean sheet were dashed within four minutes when his wayward pass to Joe Gomez was seized upon by Grealish, who squared for Watkins to slot home.

Earlier on Sunday, Manchester United lost 6-1 to Tottenham, making this the first time both teams conceded six goals each on the same day in the two clubs’ history.

Opta Stats

7 – Liverpool are the first reigning English top-flight champions to ship seven goals in a league match since Arsenal against Sunderland in September 1953.

7 – Liverpool have conceded seven goals in a game for the first time since April 1963, in a 7-2 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

6 – For the first time in the two clubs’ history, both Liverpool and Manchester United have conceded six goals in a match on the same day