Football: Saunders punishes Liverpool: Villa are driven on by Parker

Liverpool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Aston Villa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

RON ATKINSON encapsulated the significance of the result in one sentence: 'I've never before won at Anfield after being one down'.

The last time Villa completed a League double over Liverpool was in 1952-3 when . . . Liverpool avoided relegation only in the last match, were knocked out of the FA Cup by Gateshead, then in the Third Division, and the newcomers, in a dreadful season, were Ronnie Moran, Alan A'Court and Louis Bimpson.

Villa won that season by the comprehensive margins of 2-0 at Anfield and 4-0 at home; a goal margin of 6-3 this time will suit Atkinson who rightly made the point that if Dalian Atkinson had survived beyond the first 40 minutes Villa might had another substantial victory for Dalian the Devastator, twice in the first half, sliced through the Liverpool defence like Martin Offiah.

His departure, with a groin strain, turned the match into less of a contest of speed and power and more a tactical battle that eventually revolved around finishing technique in the box, the 40,000 crowd seeing three scores of high quality: John Barnes, surrounded by Villa defenders, had to retrieve, control, swivel and shoot in perhaps two seconds. As Gary Lineker said, probably only Barnes in British football could have scored that goal.

Villa's two goals were brilliant snatches, Garry Parker taking a short header from his right, trapping and then hitting the ball left- footed on the half-volley, from 18 yards; Dean Saunders demonstrated, to Anfield's chagrin, his forte, pouncing on the turning Torben Piechnik, using his speed to seize the ball and then turning to fire across the by then defenceless Mike Hooper.

Liverpool's defeat is easily explained. Rob Jones had to be the veteran in the back four and Villa's attack, when Dalian is present, can be lethal, as Manchester United know. For all that, Liverpool's midfield was strengthened and improved by the return of Jamie Redknapp and Paul Stewart and the attack could match Villa's in exploitation if not in finishing.

Saunders was exaggerating when he said that Liverpool had 11 players in the treatment room who could win the championship but he made a valid point. It may be the treatment room, rather than the manager's office, that will, eventually decide this season for both clubs.

Steve Nicol and David Burrows are crucial to Liverpool's defence, Dalian Atkinson lifts Villa into another dimension. Neither team, overall, seems to have the consistency of performance you would expect from champions or cup- winners. Could Manchester United complete their first League and Cup double?

Goals: Barnes (41) 1-0; Parker (55) 1-1; Saunders (65) 1-2.

Liverpool: Hooper; Marsh, R Jones, Stewart, Piechnik, Bjornbye, McManaman, Redknapp (Hutchison, 80), Rosenthal (Walters, 71), Barnes, Thomas. Substitute not used: James (gk).

Aston Villa: Spink; Barrett, Staunton, Teale, McGrath, Richardson, Houghton, Parker, Saunders, Atkinson (Froggatt, h/t; Cox, 88), Yorke. Substitute not used: Bosnich (gk).

Referee: K Hackett (Sheffield).