The Spaniard pulled up holding his hamstring on the half hour mark as the Reds saw their chances of securing three wins in their opening three games for the first time since 1994-95 come to an end.
Rafael Benitez's side shaded what was a full-blooded encounter between two even sides but despite creating the majority of the chances they could not find that elusive match-winning goal.
It means Liverpool failed to take advantage of Chelsea's home draw with Spurs earlier in the afternoon and remain in second-place behind Luiz Felipe Scolari's side on goal difference.
Ahead of the clash the Villa faithful greeted the Reds with the expected crescendo of boos but despite the white-hot reception it was Liverpool who made the more assured start with the returning Javier Mascherano helping to bolster the visitors' midfield in the absence of Steven Gerrard.
However, Rafael Benitez's side lacked the cutting edge to go with their early possession and it was the hosts who asked most of the questions in an even first period, with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew in particular, a constant menace to stand-in skipper Jamie Carragher and co.
To make matters worse the Reds were dealt a huge blow on 30 minutes when Torres pulled up after chasing a hopeful ball and had to be replaced by David Ngog, who came on to make his Premier League debut.
It summed up a disappointing first 45 for the Reds in which chances were at a premium with Dirk Kuyt's drilled effort into the side netting and Ngog's snap shot from the edge of the box the best we could muster.
In contrast Villa will have wondered how they didn't take a lead into the interval after Ashley Young cut the ball back for John Carew, but the big Norwegian saw his low attempt from eight yards brilliantly saved by the feet of Pepe Reina.
It was perhaps an unsurprising scoreline for the travelling Kop to discuss over their half-time cups of tea as Liverpool made it nine competitive games in a row in which they have failed to score in the first-half.
Last season the attacking duo of Gerrard and Torres were responsible for the vast majority of the Reds' goals and it seemed likely Rafael Benitez's side's profligacy would continue without them.
And so it would prove, although the eleven men on show did their best to take up the baton with Ngog inches away from turning a low centre into the net while Alonso saw his side-footed shot from the edge of the box deflect just over the bar after great play by Robbie Keane.
The Irishman's link up play proved to be a feature of Liverpool's attacking bursts although he should have done better on 72 minutes when he screwed his shot wide of Brad Friedel's far post after Mascherano's ball had sent him clear.
There was a definite improvement in the away side's display but for all their efforts Villa remained stubbornly resistant and the Reds will now have to wait until the home clash with Manchester United in a fortnight's time to try and score their 400th goal under boss Rafael Benitez.
Teams
Aston Villa: Friedel, Shorey, Davies, Laursen (c), Young, Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs - Gardner, Guzan, Harewood, Knight, Milner, Routledge, Salifou
Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher (c), Skrtel, Arbeloa, Leiva, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Keane, Torres. Subs - Agger, Aurelio, Babel, Benayoun, Cavalieri, El Zhar, Ngog
Referee: M Atkinson
Conditions:
Attendance: Unavailable
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Javier Mascherano
Breakdown
15:00 GMT : Match Starts1 min : Liverpool get the game underway at Villa Park
2 mins : We launch an early attack which Laursen does well to cut out
5 mins : Nice move from Liverpool ends with a Keane pass towards Torres which is over-hit
5 mins : Villa counter attack and win the first corner of the game after a mistake from Skrtel
10 mins : Mascherano fouls Petrov and concedes a free kick which comes to nothing
11 mins : Mistake by Reina gives Carew a chance but the striker's touch is too strong and the Reds have a goal kick
13 mins : Alonso floats in Liverpool's first corner of the game but Laursen heads clear
13 mins : First Booking: Martin Skrtel:
20 mins : Even game so far between two well matches sides. Not too many chances to speak of
26 mins : Torres pulls up with what appears to be a hamstring problem
30 mins : Substitution: David Ngog for Fernando Torres:
34 mins : Reo Coker goes on a mazy run and wins a corner off Mascherano
38 mins : Villa cut through Liverpool's defence and Reina has to make a great stop from Carew. Best chance of the match so far
42 mins : Kuyt has a terrific chance but fires into the side netting when a shot across goal looked the better option
44 mins : Keane slides the ball to Ngog and the Frenchman drives a shot just over. Good effort
15:48 GMT : Half Time Reached
16:04 GMT : Second Half Begins
46 mins : Villa get the second period underway
48 mins : Good run by Lucas wins an early free kick in a central area
49 mins : Alonso fires the ball into the area and is headed clear for a corner
49 mins : Kuyt has a free header from the corner but Davies makes a good challenge and Villa get the ball away
51 mins : Carew heads over from a well delivered corner.....game seems to be opening up now
53 mins : Alonso's shot is deflected for a corner and from the next move Dossena delivers a brilliant cross which Friedel has to palm away. Much better from us
61 mins : Young's free kick presents a chance to Davies but the defender mis-directs his header in front of goal
62 mins : Substitution: James Milner for Luke Young:
64 mins : First Booking: Andrea Dossena:
68 mins : Substitution: Fabio Aurelio for Dirk Kuyt:
73 mins : Keane is through but Reo Coker recovers to make a challenge and leave Rafa screaming for a penalty
78 mins : Substitution: Yossi Benayoun for Robbie Keane:
79 mins : Substitution: Craig Gardner for Nicky Shorey:
83 mins : The ball breaks for Milner on the edge of the area but Reina deals with the shot well
84 mins : Laursen heads the ball wide after out-jumping the Liverpool defence inside the box
89 mins : Liverpool clear the ball off their own line late in the game
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment