LIVERPOL: An own goal by Brazilian Lucas, Curtis Davies’ header and Ashley Young’s penalty helped Aston Villa to a 3-1 win over Liverpool, who pulled one back through Fernando Torres, at Anfield, on Monday. Midfielder Lucas glanced Young’s free kick into his own net 11 minutes before the interval and Davies made it two in added time. Torres halved the deficit with 18 minutes left but after Steven Gerrard tripped Nigel Reo-Coker, Young made it three from the spot to make it two defeats from their opening three matches for the Reds. It was also the first time since December 2007, when they were defeated 1-0 by Manchester United, that Liverpool were defeated in the Premier League at Anfield as Rafael Benitez’s side’s frustrations at home, where they drew seven matches last season, surfaced once again. Liverpool pressed forward from the start but Villa should have taken the lead when Nicky Shorey’s whipped cross was headed straight at Pepe Reina by the unmarked Davies. In the ninth minute, it was Liverpool’s turn to fail to take a string of chances as Torres and Benayoun scuffed shots before Steven Gerrard’s effort was turned over by Brad Friedel. But 11 minutes before the interval, Villa took a shock lead with a 30-yard free kick. Young curled an apparently innocuous effort towards goal but it glanced off the head of Lucas and into the net. The Reds looked for an immediate response as Glen Johnson broke into the box and laid off for Torres, whose shot on the turn was pushed away by Friedel. But Villa looked even more dangerous on the break and after a quick counter-attack, Nigel Reo Coker’s low strike flew just wide of Reina’s post. And as Villa continued to take every chance to get forward, Steve Sidwell’s cross was met by Shorey’s header only for Reina to save. The Reds were full of fire after the restart and Johnson’s impressive foot-work set up Gerrard, whose drive was pushed away by Friedel. And Friedel did well again to block from a Mascherano. Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt then passed up a series of chances as Liverpool continued to press forward. The Reds thought they had got back in the game with Torres scoring in the 18 the minute. But just a couple of minutes later, Villa restored their lead from the penalty spot. As Reo-Coker burst into the area, he was tripped by Gerrard and Young sent Reina the wrong way with a powerful set-piece to put Villa back in control. Torres and Johnson both went close but Liverpool slipped to a miserable defeat.