Dean Smith: I'm so proud of Aston Villa players
Dean Smith saluted the greatest result of his managerial career to date as Villa put SEVEN past champions Liverpool.
Club record signing Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick, Jack Grealish bagged a brace while Ross Barkley and John McGinn were also on the mark as Smith’s men won 7-2 on an extraordinary night at Villa Park.
The victory was Villa’s biggest in the Premier League since a 7-1 win over Wimbledon in February, 1995.
Mo Salah scored both goals for Liverpool, who suffered their heaviest defeat since 1963.
Asked where the result ranked in his career Smiths said: “It has to be right at the top. To go and get a performance like that against an exceptional team takes something special. It was a special performance.
“I am extremely proud. They executed a gameplan to perfection but it was not just that, it was workrate and ethic. We played exceptionally well and I am proud of everyone.”
Villa, who have won their opening three league matches for the first time since 1962, were 4-1 up at half-time but kept their foot on the gas during the second period and might have scored more.
Smith’s team now head into the international break second in the Premier League but the boss said: “I’m glad there is a bit of a break now and we won’t be getting too carried away.
“The margins in football are very fine and the problem for my players now is I will be expecting those kind of performances all the time.”
Watkins became the first Villa player since Christian Benteke in 2015 to score a Premier League hat-trick but later claimed he should have scored more.
“In the second half I went through one-on-one and I should be scoring there,” he said.
“When the first one went in I pinched myself because it was so early on. I am just delighted I could contribute.
“It is unbelievable. Before the game I did not expect to score three but after the first one I got some confidence and grew into the game.
“We saw how high they (Liverpool) play and the gameplan was to get in behind them. It worked. We fancied ourselves but I am not sure we expected the score to be that.”
Villa, who have spent more than £75million during te could still complete a move for Werder Bremen forward Milot Rashica before Monday’s deadline, while Bournemouth’s Josh King remains an alternative.
