Liverpool started poorly at Villa Park when in the fourth minute Adrian‘s terrible pass gifted Watkins the opener, deputizing for Alisson in goal for the visitors after the Brazilian picked up a shoulder injury.
If Watkins’ first goal in a Villa shirt was an aspect of good luck, his second was all his own fine work as he sliced inside before shooting into the top corner to shock the champions and make it 2-0 in the 22nd minute.
Liverpool was defeated by Aston Villa (2:7) in the Premier League match of the 4th round.
Mohamed Salah’s perfect left-foot finish appeared to have Liverpool back in the game in the 33rd minute, but the deflected shot of John McGinn regained Villa’s two-goal lead two minutes later.
Making his debut Watkins achieved his hat-trick inside 39 minutes, with former Everton midfielder Ross Barkley —turning it into five, 10 minutes into the second half.
Before a late double from Grealish completed a spectacular win for the team that barely prevented relegation last season, Salah gave Liverpool hope on the hour mark.
A hat-trick and an assist were made by forward Ollie Watkins, midfielder Jack Grealish scored two goals and provided 3 assists.
In the Premier League Liverpool missed 7 goals per match for the first time. In the match of the top division in 1963, this happened to the Reds last time.
Aston Villa – Liverpool 7–2
Goals: Watkins 4, 22, McGinn 35, Watkins 39, Barkley 55, Grealish 66, 75 – Salah 33, 60.
Yellow Cards: Douglas Luiz 46, Nakamba 90+2 – van Dijk 38.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash (El Mohamady 80), Konsa, Mings, Targett, Douglas Luiz (Nakamba 80), McGinn, Trezeguet (Traore 87), Barkley, Grealish, Watkins.
Liverpool: Adrian, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez (Jones 61), van Dijk, Robertson, Keita (Minamino 45), Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Salah, Firmino, Jota.
