Andy Robertson does get the ball this time, sending in a low cross which is cleared by Bjorn Engels.

Villa clear the resulting corner and burst forward through Anwar El Ghazi, whose deep delivery is sliced horribly wide by Trezeguet.

Decent chance for Villa, that!

Chris Waddle
Ex-Tottenham and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

The only thing offside for me was Firmino's hand. It should have been a goal.

The VAR has not worked, they have not got it right, fans and players are going to get very frustrated with it.

John McGinn almost ghosts in behind the Liverpool defence but van Dijk intercepts the pass and sets the visitors on the attack.

Sadio Mane has time to pick out a pass but chooses the wrong option, attempting to slip the ball through to Mo Salah with Andy Robertson bursting unmarked into the area on the left-hand side.

Phil Dawkes
BBC Sport at Villa Park

The noise in Villa Park is deafening, first for the strike from Trezeguet that wormed its way under Alisson and then for the VAR check, the duration of which was accompanied by some pretty damning chants about the technology.

The final roar was the loudest, though. The goal stands, the home fans are delirious and the league leaders trail.

Sadio Mane almost dispossesses Tyrone Mings on the corner of the Villa penalty area, but the Senegal forward's challenge was a little too robust for the referee's liking.

Jurgen Klopp doesn't look too happy on the touchline.

Almost an equaliser for Liverpool.

Roberto Firmino bundles home Sadio Mane's cross but it's ruled out for offside.

It's gone to VAR again, but the decision stands. Only half a yard in it, if that!

That was only Villa's sixth goal in 18 home league meetings with Liverpool.

Liverpool have responded well, however, and Sadio Mane's header from Trent Alexander-Arnold's corner is cleared behind by Tyrone Mings.

The Reds' second corner comes to nothing.

Chris Waddle
Ex-Tottenham and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

That's the second ball Villa put into the box like that.

It is a great ball by John McGinn and the goalkpeer can’t come for it.

Is there a touch of offside? It’s hard to say but it looks like it is a goal.

Check over! Villa lead!

Video Assistant Refereepublished at 22 mins

22 mins

Aston Villa 1-0 Liverpool

It's being checked for offside...

A moment of respite for Villa as Sadio Mane trips Marvelous Nakamba inside the Liverpool half.

Mane concedes another foul moments later, bringing down John McGinn and earning himself a ticking off from the referee.

Another chance for Liverpool, this time for Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian connects well with Virgil van Dijk's deep ball into the Villa box, but the angle is tight and Salah can only direct his effort straight at Tom Heaton.

Jordan Henderson's raking crossfield pass finds Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Matt Targett does well to force a throw-in off the young full-back.

Liverpool win back possession, though, and Henderson's looping delivery into the area is headed narrowly wide by Sadio Mane.

Dean Smith will be delighted with his team's start to proceedings.

Liverpool have had the majority of possession but both chances so far have fallen to the Villans.

What a chance for Villa!

The hosts win their first corner and Matt Targett's delivery finds Wesley - unmarked in a central position inside the penalty area - but the striker fails to make proper contact with the cross.

Wesley may have been in an offside position but should have done better there.

The visitors force the first corner of the contest. Trent Alexander-Arnold's delivery towards Georginio Wijnaldum is cleared to safety.

Jordan Henderson's undercooked back pass is then nearly intercepted but Alisson is alert to the danger, rushing off his line to make the clearance.

Villa haven't seen much of the ball since that early El Ghazi's chance.

Dejan Lovren collects a loose ball and tries to find Roberto Firmino, but it trickles out for a goal-kick.

Chris Waddle
Ex-Tottenham and England winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Good start from Villa, not the best touch from El Ghazi but it was a great reflex save from Alisson. Villa are full of confidence and pressing high.

Better from Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold - making his 100th appearance for the visitors this afternoon - swings in a teasing cross from the right but Tyrone Mings hacks the ball away to safety.

Lively start at Villa Park.