Should the deal go through as expected, Downing will become the third British midfielder that Kenny Dalglish has signed this summer. Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam were purchased not too long ago and it is clear the Liverpool manager wants to adopt a British flavour to the club.

With Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher to be at the spine of the team once more, Glen Johnson at full-back and Andy Carroll leading the line, a large portion of the Liverpool team could be English come the start of the Premier League season.

With reference to the Downing deal, Dalglish said: “We will now try to agree personal terms with him, but it will all depend on the medical. It is a work in progress and we will see what happens and keep you informed.”

Aston Villa have revealed that Downing handed in a transfer request prior to a bid being accepted, meaning that they were fighting a losing battle when it came to trying to keep the England international.

They are likely to be disappointed to lose a popular player who will have his name plastered across many Villa Football Kits worn by fans, but their hand was forced.

The former Middlesbrough man has always been keen on a move to Liverpool and he will be pleased that the two clubs have come to an agreement. He will now hope to be part of a team that challenges for a Champions League place at the very latest.

As for where this leaves Aston Villa, they just have to look at replacements for Downing. It is no good having players in the squad that don’t want to be there anymore and if they can get someone like Charles N’Zogbia as a replacement for a reduced fee, that would represent good business.

Downing to Liverpool is the big story of today though and this transfer makes the start of the new Premier League season even more exciting. There has been plenty of movement amongst English clubs and it is going to be fascinating to see how everyone gets on from August.

An open first half saw Ashley Young hit the post for Villa after running on to a poor Scott Parker back-pass but West Ham dominated after the break.

Carlton Cole headed an easy chance over and was denied twice from close range by Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

The visitors looked short of ideas until Milner’s 78th-minute cross looped off Lucas Neill and into the net.

Bolton took the lead through Johan Elmander’s cute near-post backheel.

But Agbonlahor controlled a long ball before slotting in the equaliser and Villa went ahead when Kevin Davies headed into his own net.

Agbonlahor nodded in a brilliant Young cross and then set up his England team-mate for a deflected finish, before Davies headed a consolation for Bolton.

The hosts could even have had a fifth had referee Lee Probert spotted what looked an obvious penalty claim in the first half but that might have been too much for the Villa Park faithful, who had not seen a league goal since 9 November

Steve Sidwell smashed in from 20 yards in the first minute but Joleon Lescott prodded home a deserved equaliser.

Marouane Fellaini had a header cleared off the line and hit the bar with another before Phil Jagielka’s woeful backpass allowed Young to slot home.

Lescott scored with an acrobatic volley to bring Everton level again but Young snatched the points when he curled in.

It was a dramatic end to game that had started in equally thrilling fashion.

Villa went into the match on the back of two consecutive goalless draws in the league but it took only 31 seconds to ensure the run would not stretch to three games.

The Blues were dominant throughout and Joe Cole drilled home the opener after running on to Frank Lampard’s pass.

Nicolas Anelka got the second when he finished off after Brad Friedel had kept out his first effort and an initial shot from Michael Ballack.

Anelka also hit the bar, while Villa failed to seriously test Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The visitors took the lead when Steed Malbranque’s pass was converted by Djibril Cisse on nine minutes.

But Young equalised with a free-kick from 20-yards nine minutes later before Carew scored the winner with a smart flick from Stiliyan Petrov’s cross.

An Andy Reid 30-yard free-kick went just wide for Sunderland on 87 minutes.

Carew headed home Ashley Young’s free-kick and Agbonlahor netted only a minute later after Leon Barnett failed to clear Young’s long ball.

James Morrison pulled a goal back for West Brom by pouncing to score after goalkeeper Brad Friedel spilled Robert Koren’s 25-yard shot.

Carew hit the post with a right-foot shot and a header in the second half.

Albion, who have not beaten Villa since 1985, were forced to make a change to their starting line-up just before kick-off.

Villa took the lead after just four minutes as Tottenham failed to cut out a Gabriel Agbonlahor cross which Nigel Reo-Coker converted with ease.

Keeper Heurelho Gomes inexplicibly let Ashley Young’s weak 54th minute shot slip under his body.

And Darren Bent’s late goal was little consolation for angry Spurs fans.

Sidibe was credited with the touch on Rory Delap’s long throw to deny Villa, who twice battled back to level.

Delap was fouled by Martin Laursen to allow Liam Lawrence to fire Stoke ahead from the penalty spot, with John Carew scoring a well-crafted equaliser.

Ricardo Fuller’s turn of pace and neat finish restored Stoke’s lead, only for Laursen to level from close range.

Villa needed to don their tin hats as they came under siege from Stoke’s direct style early on.

Villa had taken the lead when John Carew nodded home Ashley Young’s cross.

Elano levelled from the spot after Michael Johnson was fouled but Villa were quickly back in front when Carew’s knockdown was fired in by Agbonlahor.

Agbonlahor met Gareth Barry’s cross to make it 3-1 then ran on to a slide-rule Barry pass to complete his treble before Vedran Corluka’s consolation.