Tony Barton's Villa suffer a second successive defeat in all competitions as they lose at reigning champions Liverpool. Steve McMahon is sent off by referee David Hutchinson despite the Villa midfielder's assailant Graeme Souness getting away with a clear kick. That injustice added to Phil Neal escaping with a booking for denying Villa a clear goalscoring opportunity in the early minutes of the first half. As a result Villa make it three wins, one draw and two defeats in six League games so far this season. Meanwhile, Herbert Douglas Ellis faces a challenge to his dictatorship.