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.

Robin van Persie put Arsenal ahead after collecting a long pass from Samir Nasri that he brilliantly controlled before smashing home.

Keane’s equaliser was equally spectacular, drilling home a long punt upfield on the half-volley.

Emmanuel Adebayor saw red in the second half after picking up a second yellow.

Liverpool had been on top at the time of Adebayor’s 62nd-minute dismissal but the home team competed manfully after losing their Togo striker and were good value for their point.

Hull took a surprise lead when defender Paul McShane headed Marlon King’s cross into the roof of the net.

A Jamie Carragher own goal then doubled Hull’s lead before Gerrard’s goals, both from six yards, levelled matters.

The Reds had the better of the second half, with a Sami Hyypia header hitting the post and Nabil El Zhar going close.

Stephen Warnock stopped Benayoun giving Liverpool the lead before Morten Gamst Pedersen fired against the crossbar.

After half-time Alonso sidefooted past Paul Robinson to open the scoring and Benayoun shot low to double the lead.

Roque Santa Cruz’s header gave Rovers hope but Gerrard found an empty net after poor defending from the hosts.

Blackburn manager Paul Ince is likely to come under increased pressure after his side slumped to their fifth successive league defeat.

A combination of Scott Carson’s body and Jonas Olsson’s arm prevented Yossi Benayoun’s shot opening the scoring.

But there was no stopping Keane when he latched on to Steven Gerrard’s pass before clipping the ball over Carson.

Keane scored his second goal when he rounded Carson and slotted home before Alvaro Arbeloa curled in a late third.

Keane will be delighted to get off the mark in the league, following his £20m summer move from Tottenham.

Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead when he smashed in a shot on three minutes.

Darren Bent sliced a clearance against his own post before Steven Gerrard hit the post with a deflected shot and then saw his lob cannon back off the bar.

Jamie Carragher headed into his own net to give Spurs hope and Pavlyuchenko tapped in from Bent’s cross to win it.

It was a remarkable turnaround for Tottenham, whose fortunes have been completely revived under the stewardship of new boss Harry Redknapp.

Gerrard scored after Papa Bouba Diop undid his side’s resolute performance by handling a corner in Pompey boss Tony Adams’s first game in charge.

Until then, Dirk Kuyt’s shot against the post was the closest Liverpool had come to a goal.

Yossi Benayoun was also denied for the home side after a last-ditch Sylvain Distin tackle before Gerrard’s winner.

Xabi Alonso’s deflected 10th-minute goal gave Liverpool victory and shattered a Chelsea sequence stretching back to February 2004 on home turf.

It was a deserved triumph for Rafael Benitez’s side achieved without Fernando Torres and the first setback for the reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea.

Xabi Alonso’s deflected 10th-minute goal gave Liverpool victory and shattered a Chelsea sequence stretching back to February 2004 on home turf.

It was a deserved triumph for Rafael Benitez’s side achieved without Fernando Torres and the first setback for the reign of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea.