Liverpool slumped to its second defeat of the Premier League season Monday when Aston Villa triumphed 3-1 at Anfield. The first loss to Villa in eight years leaves last season's runner-up six points adrift of pacesetters Tottenham and Chelsea after three matches. The damage was sustained before half time with Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva nodding into his own goal and goalkeeper Pepe Reina beaten by a header from Villa's Curtis Davies. Fernando Torres pulled one back for Liverpool in the 72nd minute, but Villa's two-goal cushion was restored inside three minutes when Steven Gerrard conceded a penalty and Ashley Young successfully converted the spot kick. Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel made a string of vital saves to secure the win. Barca to sign Chygrynskiy Barcelona looks set to sign Ukraine central defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy from Shakhtar Donetsk, the European champions said Monday. “They have asked us for a great deal of money and negotiations are continuing,” president Joan Laporta told the Catalan television broadcaster TV3. “I believe we'll find a solution.” Barcelona plays UEFA Cup holder Shakhtar in the European Super Cup in Monaco Friday. City snaps up Sylvinho Big-spending Manchester City has signed veteran Brazilian defender Sylvinho on a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Sylvinho, 35, was a free agent after leaving Barcelona at the end of last season and has previously played in the English Premier League for Arsenal, for whom he made 55 appearances between 1999 and 2001. City boss Mark Hughes has signed the experienced defender essentially as cover for England left back Wayne Bridge. Sylvinho won the Champions League twice and three La Liga titles with Barcelona as well as picking up six caps for Brazil in a career which has also included spells at Celta Vigo and Corinthians. He could make his City debut in a League Cup second round tie at Crystal Palace Thursday. City has also secured the services of former Arsenal centreback Kolo Toure, who joined earlier this month in a 16-million-pound deal. Barca wins Supercup Lionel Messi scored two second half goals Sunday as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 to lift the Spanish Supercup. Substitute Bojan Krkic also scored as the Catalans secured their eighth Supercup 5-1 on aggregate to take the first of six trophies it is competing for following a historic treble-winning campaign last season. Messi ran onto Zlatan Ibrahimovic's pass in the 50th minute, moved around a defender and then chipped goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz for his first goal before scoring a penalty in the 68th. Krkic rounded out the scoreline just a minute after replacing Ibrahimovic, who made his competitive debut after arriving from Inter Milan. The teenage striker seized on an Athletic turnover in the 72nd to walk the ball into goal. Barcelona dominated possession just as it did at the San Mames, with Messi and Ibrahimovic beginning to strike up an understanding that coach Pep Guardiola is hoping will lead the Catalans to further glory this season. The Catalan club is also playing Shakhtar Donetsk for the European Supercup Friday and will try for the Club World Cup in December. Goalkeeper Iraizoz kept the Basques in it through the first half with a number of key saves beginning in the 25th minute when Messi let fly with a quick strike from the right side. Yaya Toure dribbled free along the goal line to find Seydou Keita with a center in the 33rd only for the Mali midfielder to trip over with only Iraizoz to beat. Soon after denying Gerard Pique, Iraizoz stopped an acrobatic volley from Ibrahimovic after Messi had found the Sweden striker alone in front of goal. Messi later stepped up to score a penalty after Ustaritz Aldekoaotalora was adjudged to have brought down Daniel Alves inside the box. Pablo Orbaiz's long-range free kick was Athletic's sole chance as it came to the Camp Nou stadium trying to overturn a 2-1 deficit from the first leg.
