Fernando Torres limped off injured as Liverpool's hopes of moving clear at the top of the Barclays Premier League were dashed following a goalless draw at Villa Park.
The Spaniard pulled up holding his hamstring on the half hour mark as the Reds saw their chances of securing three wins in their opening three games for the first time since 1994-95 come to an end.
Rafael Benitez's side shaded what was a full-blooded encounter between two even sides but despite creating the majority of the chances they could not find that elusive match-winning goal.
It means Liverpool failed to take advantage of Chelsea's home draw with Spurs earlier in the afternoon and remain in second-place behind Luiz Felipe Scolari's side on goal difference.
Ahead of the clash the Villa faithful greeted the Reds with the expected crescendo of boos but despite the white-hot reception it was Liverpool who made the more assured start with the returning Javier Mascherano helping to bolster the visitors' midfield in the absence of Steven Gerrard.
However, Rafael Benitez's side lacked the cutting edge to go with their early possession and it was the hosts who asked most of the questions in an even first period, with Gabriel Agbonlahor and John Carew in particular, a constant menace to stand-in skipper Jamie Carragher and co.
To make matters worse the Reds were dealt a huge blow on 30 minutes when Torres pulled up after chasing a hopeful ball and had to be replaced by David Ngog, who came on to make his Premier League debut.
It summed up a disappointing first 45 for the Reds in which chances were at a premium with Dirk Kuyt's drilled effort into the side netting and Ngog's snap shot from the edge of the box the best we could muster.
In contrast Villa will have wondered how they didn't take a lead into the interval after Ashley Young cut the ball back for John Carew, but the big Norwegian saw his low attempt from eight yards brilliantly saved by the feet of Pepe Reina.
It was perhaps an unsurprising scoreline for the travelling Kop to discuss over their half-time cups of tea as Liverpool made it nine competitive games in a row in which they have failed to score in the first-half.
Last season the attacking duo of Gerrard and Torres were responsible for the vast majority of the Reds' goals and it seemed likely Rafael Benitez's side's profligacy would continue without them.
And so it would prove, although the eleven men on show did their best to take up the baton with Ngog inches away from turning a low centre into the net while Alonso saw his side-footed shot from the edge of the box deflect just over the bar after great play by Robbie Keane.
The Irishman's link up play proved to be a feature of Liverpool's attacking bursts although he should have done better on 72 minutes when he screwed his shot wide of Brad Friedel's far post after Mascherano's ball had sent him clear.
There was a definite improvement in the away side's display but for all their efforts Villa remained stubbornly resistant and the Reds will now have to wait until the home clash with Manchester United in a fortnight's time to try and score their 400th goal under boss Rafael Benitez.
Teams
Liverpool: Reina, Dossena, Carragher (captain), Skrtel, Arbeloa, Leiva, Alonso, Mascherano, Kuyt, Torres, Keane. Subs - Benayoun, El Zhar, Babel, Ngog, Cavalieri, Aurelio, Agger
Aston Villa: Friedel, Shorey, Laursen (captain), Davies, Young, Young, Barry, Reo-Coker, Petrov, Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs - Gardner, Guzan, Knight, Routledge, Salifou, Milner, Harewood
Referee: M Atkinson
Conditions: Wet
Attendance: 41647
Liverpoolfc.tv Man-of-the-Match: Javier Mascherano
