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Ollie Watkins scored four times against the Reds
Photo:
Cath Ivill / AP
The English champions FC Liverpool lost 2: 7 (1: 4) at Aston Villa.
24-year-old Ollie Watkins put the hosts, who finished 17th in the Premier League last season, in the lead with three goals in the first half (4th / 22nd / 39th minute) before Liverpool broke up.
Mohamed Salah scored two more goals (33rd / 60th), but Jack McGinn (35th), Ross Barkley (55th) and Jack Grealish (66th, 75th) made for the most goals conceded by the Reds since 1963. Back then was the name of the opponent Tottenham Hotspur in the 7-1 defeat, who had achieved a sensational 6-1 (4-1) at Manchester United in the early evening.
Liverpool goalkeeper Adrián, who stood for the injured regular Alisson in goal, initiated the defeat with a mistake.
The Spaniard played an inaccurate pass on his teammate Joe Gomez, allowing Grealish to capture the ball and pass Watkins, who was able to complete unchecked.
On his second goal, the Englishman played a one-two with Grealish on the left, pulled a hook in the middle and placed the ball at the long angle.
Good luck with deflected shots
Salah shortened to 1: 2, but the gap grew to two goals before the break.
First McGinn hit with a deflected shot, then Watkins scored his third hit with the head.
After the half-time break, it continued in a similar rhythm: In the 55th minute Grealish lost the ball to Barkley, who pulled with the left and was lucky that Trent Alexander-Arnold deflected the shot untenable.
On Salah's second goal, Grealish fired the next shot, which was deflected again, this time by Georginio Wijnaldum.
At 7-2, however, there was no longer a leg in between, McGinn played after winning the ball in the run of Grealish, who defeated Adrián.
In the Premier League table, Aston Villa, who have played one game less than Liverpool, are now in second place ahead of the Reds.
The Reds, who previously had three league wins in a row, are still fifth despite the defeat.
Leader of the table after four wins from four games is Liverpool's city rivals FC Everton - after the international break there will be a direct duel in the English league cup.
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mrk / dpa
