Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez condemned his players for making “too many mistakes” as they slumped to their second league defeat in nine days.

Beaten at Tottenham on the opening weekend, they recovered to over-power Stoke in midweek, only to slump to a disheartening 3-1 home defeat at the hands of a vibrant Aston Villa at Anfield.

It was Villa’s first win of the season, and ended Liverpool’s 31-match unbeaten league run dating back to December 2007.

And the reverse already puts in doubt Liverpool’s title aspirations. They only lost two league games last season, now they have equalled that tally in the opening days of the new campaign.

Villa were two-up at the break through a Lucas own goal and a header from Curtis Davies. Torres pulled one back in the second-half, but Steven Gerrard’s lunge at Nigel Reo-Coker conceded a spot-kick that Ashley Young confidently drove home.

Benitez said: “In the first 20 minutes we created plenty of chances and played well. Then we conceded the own goal and started to make more mistakes.

“We have lost and we know we have to improve. I felt we had a chance when Fernando Torres scored, but the penalty finished it. It was a clear penalty.

“We now know that we have to go to Bolton on Saturday and win. Everything could change if we do that, our confidence will improve.”

Benitez added: “We were not playing well, and we were up against a team who are excellent on the counter-attack.

“Their keeper (Brad Friedel) made some great saves, but when that happens we just have to make more chances.

“This squad is virtually the same as last season, so I believe it is good enough to mount a title challenge. But we must do more, we must win at Bolton.

“We will have to sit down and analyse every player now, and make sure we do the right things in our next match. But our senior players must take more responsibility.”

Villa boss Martin O’Neill said: “That was a terrific effort from my team. At 2-0 we were in reasonable command of the game, although you are never in command at Anfield.

“But when they scored we got a penalty straightaway, a clean penalty, and we were back with our two goal lead.

“That gave us confidence, discipline and shape to our team and we deserved to win.

“Brad Friedel was outstanding. He rolled back the years. He was fantastic against his old club to perform like that at Anfield.

“He will be delighted with himself, and rightly so, and we are delighted with him.”

“It was a fantastic performance from the whole side and we fully deserved the victory.”

New Liverpool signing Alberto Aquilani knows all about the club’s proud history and wants to bring more riches to Anfield.

The midfielder was born a few months after his hometown team Roma lost a penalty shoot-out to Joe Fagan’s side in the 1984 European Cup final.

Alan Kennedy scored the winner - on their opponents ground as well - to bring the trophy back to Anfield.

While he was celebrating, Bruno Conti was inconsolable after sending his spot-kick over the bar for the home side.

Aquilani, who is looking forward to playing in the Barclays Premier League after arriving from Roma, said: “You cannot ignore the huge past of this club.

“I grew up in Rome and knew about the final between Roma and Liverpool. It was a game I became very much aware of.

“Bruno Conti talked to me a lot about it, especially his big mistake.

“I knew I would only leave Roma for a club such as Liverpool. I hope to do the shirt proud and help them win more honours.”

Aquilani will be looking on tomorrow when Liverpool open their campaign at Tottenham.

While he is frustrated at not being involved, because of an ankle injury, he is relishing the challenge once fit.

Aquilani has already been assured by Italy coach Marcello Lippi that he will remain in the frame in World Cup year, providing he is playing well.

He said: “Going to the World Cup is a big objective for me. But in order to do that, I need to do well with Liverpool.

“I spoke to Marcello Lippi before coming to England and he reassured me it will not be a problem.”

Aquilani revealed he had received some good advice from former Liverpool full-back John Arne Riise, who is now at Roma.

“Riise spoke highly of Rafael Benitez and said he would help me grow, ” he said.

“I am aware of the pressure the club is under and I will be under. But if you want to play for a big club you have to handle the pressure.

“I have heard a lot about the unique atmosphere at Anfield, the Kop and the great fans. I am looking forward to getting fit and making my debut.”

Xabi Alonso bade Liverpool farewell after his move to Real Madrid, but admitted he had been “determined” to leave for some time.

Alonso was presented as a Real Madrid player last night after signing a five-year contract at the Bernabeu.

The Basque midfielder joins Madrid from Liverpool for around £30million and was unveiled at the stadium.

The 27-year-old Spain international arrived in the capital after a fee was agreed between Liverpool and Real.

Alonso then underwent various tests and met his new team-mates for training.

The midfielder is Madrid’s eighth summer signing, taking the Primera Division giants’ spending to more than £220million in only two months.

Madrid president Florentino Perez has brought in Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul Albiol, Esteban Granero, Alvaro Arbeloa, Alvaro Negredo and Karim Benzema as he attempts to build a team capable of challenging Barcelona’s treble winners.

“It’s a very happy day for me,” said Alonso. “It’s an important step in my career to come to a club like Real Madrid.

“I’m very happy to be part of this club and I was very excited for this day to arrive.

“It’s the best opportunity for me to develop as a footballer.”

The transfer sees Alonso return to Spain after five years away from his homeland.

And, while he enjoyed his time on Merseyside, the former Real Sociedad player admitted he decided before the end of the season the time was right to move on.

“I am very grateful to Liverpool fans, they were very warm during my five years,” he continued. “It will be really difficult to match their appreciation.

“I really enjoyed those five years.

“But a few months ago I took that decision as I thought it was the right moment to find a fresh challenge, to look for a new club.

“That’s when Real Madrid came along. Luckily a deal has been done and I’m very happy.

“It is a personal challenge I felt is necessary for my football career.”

The transfer was one of the most protracted deals of the summer but Alonso claims he always believed he would be at the Bernabeu before the start of the season.

“I didn’t have all the cards in my hand but I was confident,” he said. “A while back I became determined to leave.

“The end result was what I wished for, here I am and I am very happy.”

Reports suggest Alonso’s relationship with Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez disintegrated after he professed his desire to leave.

However, Alonso insists he has nothing but respect for his former boss.

“I have repeated over and over again that the relationship was a professional one, of mutual respect, a normal one between coach and player,” he said.

“I respect him and thank him for the opportunity he gave me.

“The goodbyes were quite brief, everything happened very quickly and I didn’t have time to say goodbye properly.

“I want to return to say goodbye to my team-mates and Rafa.

“As everything was very quick I hardly had time so as soon as I can I will say goodbye as I should have done.”

Liverpool could cash in on Xabi Alonso to fund their bid to sign Valencia striker David Villa and pair him with Fernando Torres.

Alonso has been linked with a return to Spain and a move to Real Madrid in a deal that could be worth £30million.

On Friday, it was reported that the Spaniard submitted a transfer request to Reds manager Rafael Benitez to effectively signal his desire to leave Anfield.

Now according to British tabloid The Sun, Benitez will let Alonso go but he will use the transfer money earned to recreate Spain’s deadly striking partnership by bringing in Villa.

Although the striker has turned down advances from Barcelona and Real Madrid, the lure of playing alongside Torres could be a more appealing incentive to Villa.

Benitez could compensate for Alonso’s departure by reverting back to a 4-4-2 formation with Steven Gerrard moving back to his favoured central midfield role alongside Javier Mascherano.

However, other wire reports have suggested that Real will offer Liverpool a cash plus players deal to secure the signature of Alonso. Real have offered Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Alvaro Negredo or Rafael van der Vaart.

Negredo is currently valued at around €15m, while Huntelaar’s price tag is set at €20m.

Liverpool are currently in Spain to prepare for their friendly against Espanyol on Sunday and Benitez could use this period to wrap up the deals.

Days after asking Liverpool to open the cheque book Fernando Torres has insisted that Liverpool can succeed without spending big.

Liverpool’s star-striker had encouraged the Reds to pursue their interest in Valencia’s David Villa and David Silva, but with the realisation that such a big-money raid is unlikely to happen ‘El Nino’ backed the clubs current players to make a big statement in the league next season.

Speaking to English daily The Guardian, Torres said, “I don’t know about Liverpool’s financial situation but I know we don’t have the same money as Manchester United or Chelsea.

“We’re fighting them with less money every season. That’s not a problem for us - we’re a strong team and we’ll win trophies with money or without it.

“The important thing is we’re getting closer to the title.”

Torres then spoke of his frustration at Liverpool’s lack of success during his time at Anfield, continuing, “It’s been frustrating for me because three years without a trophy for Liverpool is too long. The next one is coming, though - I’m sure of it.”

He then admitted that Spanish international team-mate David Villa might be an unattainable target, stating, “I know Rafa is working hard to bring in good players but I’m pretty sure David Villa will be too expensive for us.

“He is an outstanding striker and if Liverpool could sign anyone, I’d ask for him. He’s been in sensational form this season.

“But, to be honest, we have Steven Gerrard playing behind the striker and he scores 20 goals a season, so we don’t really need another forward.”

According to Torres, keeping the players they currently have is more important for Liverpool than signing new ones. “We just need to keep our best players,” he said.

“I worry about losing my team-mates but if we can keep our best players and bring in some more, we’ll be even stronger for next season. “

Fernando Torres has brushed off transfer speculation by insisting he will stay at Liverpool.

The striker has been linked with a return to Spain and even a switch to the Reds’ bitter rivals Manchester United.

Torres signed a new contract last month and is confident he can satisfy his ambitions on Merseyside.

He told the Daily Mail: “Winning the European Championship with Spain gave me a taste of what winning at the top level was like and once you’ve had a taste of success it becomes an addiction.

“A lot of players committed themselves to Liverpool this summer with new contracts and players don’t do that unless they think they can have their ambitions met.

“There is a lot of belief at the club and a lot of trust in the manager. I sincerely believe I will win the Premier League and the European Cup here. The winning tradition is very clear at Liverpool. I want to be involved in a little piece of their history.”

He continued: “I’m very happy with my contract at Liverpool and wouldn’t leave just to earn a little more somewhere else where I wouldn’t be that happy. To want any more would be greedy and that is not me. As long as Liverpool want me, I will stay.”

The 25-year-old has been linked with United following their acceptance of Real Madrid’s £80million bid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Torres will be sad to see the Portuguese leave the Barclays Premier League but insists Liverpool will not win the title by default.

“He has been one of the best players in the world for the last three years and it will be a big loss for the league but, with the amount of investment in the Premier League, I expect world-class players to arrive this summer as well,” he said.

“Madrid obviously are spending lots of money and I’m sure that (United boss) Sir Alex Ferguson will be looking for a big name to replace Ronaldo, but I’m very excited about what the boss is doing here at Liverpool.

“We won’t win the title because Manchester United have become weaker but because we have become better.”

Liverpool’s perilous financial position has increased speculation about the future of their star names, with Reds boss Rafael Benitez consistently denying midfielder Javier Mascherano is on his way out of Anfield.

Torres also believes the Argentinian will stay, adding: “Javier loves it at Liverpool, that is all I can tell you.

“In the summer people like to make a lot of noises about world-class players - and Javier is a world-class player. He has said himself that he is very happy at Anfield and there is no reason for him to want to leave.”

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he is considering retiring at the end of his current contract.

The 29-year-old England midfielder has a deal until 2013 with the Reds, but admits it could be his last in football.

“I’ll be 33 at the end of my contract, and it’s doubtful whether I’ll carry on,” he said in an interview with France Football. “If I decide to stop, I’ll be proud of the fact I’ve spent my entire career with the same club.”

Gerrard also revealed he gave serious thought to leaving Anfield for Chelsea four years ago, but changed his mind late in the day.

“I’ve thought about leaving Liverpool twice during my career, especially in 2005 when Chelsea was a temptation,” he added.

“But I’m glad I never turned those thoughts into reality.”

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has ruled out selling midfielder Javier Mascherano to Barcelona.

Mascherano’s agent was quoted as saying the Argentina international would welcome a move to the Nou Camp.

“It would make Javier very proud that a club like Barcelona pay him attention after such an incredible year. I believe a transfer would be feasible,” Walter Tamer said.

But Benitez has dismissed the idea, insisting Mascherano is happy at Anfield.

“Mascherano has no price,” the Spaniard told the club’s website.

“Barcelona could not afford to match his value to Liverpool Football Club.

“We do not want to sell and Javier is very happy here.

“I have spoken to Javier two or three times this summer - the last time was only last week - and he was very happy, very positive.

“He gave me the private number of his agent, Walter Tamer, and again the conversation was very positive and was all about football.

“Walter told me that two clubs with big, big names were asking after Mascherano - and I told him to forget it, that Javier was happy in Liverpool and he was not for sale.

“So I was surprised to see the agent’s comments today.

“He has a long contract and any club can forget about bidding for him. They can offer £40m or even £50m, we don’t want to sell.”

Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has dismissed suggestions he is trying to sign Napoli striker Ezequiel Lavezzi.

There were claims in Italy yesterday that Napoli had been approached by an agent acting as an intermediary for Liverpool over a possible £15million deal for the 24 year-old Argentina international.

And the player’s advisor Eduardo Rossetto insisted that “Liverpool’s proposal is true.”

However, Benitez said today: “We never contacted Lavezzi and we have no intention of doing so.

“We want to put a stop to these rumours.”

Liverpool have also reaffirmed their position on Javier Mascherano, who has been linked with Barcelona, insisting the player is not for sale.