Steven Gerrard went from England hero to Anfield villain after being sent off for a horror tackle in this first home league defeat for Liverpool since Good Friday.

Gerrard launched a fierce challenge on George Boateng after 73 minutes and Essex referee Andy D'Urso had little option under current directives but to produce the red card.

Liverpool's England brigade could hardly have expected to suffer a defeat like this, but Villa are organised in defence, determined in midfield, and they had big Dion Dublin to cause trouble in the air.

He scored the first, helped create the second for Lee Hendrie and bothered Sami Hyypia and Stephane Henchoz all afternoon.

And when Darius Vassell poached a third in the dying minutes, new Polish goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek had his debut afternoon ruined.

Liverpool, beaten 2-1 at Bolton in their last match, needed to recover from that quickly, but Villa never really gave them the opportunity.

Liverpool played with such a lack of urgency at times you wondered whether they already had next summer's World Cup finals on their minds.

Michael Owen was rested to the bench after his England efforts while Poland's Dudek - the only Liverpool player currently certain of being in the finals next summer - made his debut after the controversial dumping of Sander Westerveld, who watched the action straight-faced in the directors' box wearing a smart suit that was as grey as the look on his face!

There's no question, though, that when Owen isn't at the sharp end, the pace drops from Liverpool's game and their own damaging outlet over the top is not as effective.

Paul Merson, unmarked on the edge of the box, forced Dudek into a confident save, but he was soon to find himself beaten. On 29 minutes Nick Barmby was booked for a late tackle on Mark Delaney, and from the free-kick lifted in by Merson, Dublin appeared through the pack to power an unstoppable header past a helpless Dudek.

On 39 minutes Jamie Carragher was the next Liverpool man into the book. He continued his run into Schmeichel as the great Dane came to collect a high ball. The collision sent Schmeichel spinning to the ground.

Whatever was said at half-time, and you can be sure there would have been plenty, it worked for Liverpool within 50 seconds of the restart.

A Gary McAllister corner curled into the box to be met by Gerrard. His downward header bounced through the six-yard box and although it was hooked away, the linesman instantly signalled a goal.

Olof Mellberg was booked for a foul on Heskey on 47 minutes, but in the 54th minute Villa were ahead again. And again it was Dublin who caused the trouble.

He got a head to a free-kick dropping into the box, but miskicked as the ball dropped to him. But Hendrie was first to react and stabbed the ball into the bottom corner.

Owen was finally pushed into action on 59 minutes, replacing Barmby. He got a good reception from the Liverpool fans, but Villa's at the other end rose to a man to chant "England, England" at the 21-year-old who obviously now belongs to everyone.

Gregory Vignal took over from John Arne Riise at the same time, with Liverpool intent on using all three of their famed striking trio to try to salvage something.

Alpay was booked for not retreating quickly enough from a free-kick, and when McAllister curled one of his trademark efforts into the top corner this time he was confronted by the giant hand of Schmeichel to tip it over.

Hyypia had a close-range header inches wide and Heskey saw a crosshot flash wide of the far post before Villa took off Merson and replaced him with Mustapha Hadji on 69 minutes.

Gerrard is shown the red card

But worse was to come for Liverpool with that flying lunge from Gerrard, catching Boateng off balance and producing a red card that will now cost him a three-match ban.

But with Liverpool playing three at the back and three up front now, going for broke, the danger of a Villa break was always on.


It came with five minutes left when Vassell took on both Carragher and Hyypia before sending a dipping drive over Dudek and just under the bar for the third.

Liverpool: Dudek, Riise (Vignal 60min), Henchoz (Murphy 75min), Hyypia, Carragher, Barmby (Owen 60min), Hamann, McAllister, Gerrard, Fowler, Heskey

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Wright, Alpay, Mellberg, Delaney, Kachloul, Hendrie (Staunton 88min), Boateng, Merson (Hadji 70min), Dublin, Vassell

Scorers: Liverpool:Gerrard 46 Aston Villa: Dublin 31, Hendrie 55, Vassell 86

Booked: Barmby 28, Carragher 35, Mellberg 48, Alpay 63, Vignal 79

Sent Off: Gerrard 73

Referee: A D'Urso

Attendance: 44,102