Liverpool 5, Aston Villa 0: Full time report
Liverpool are breathing down Manchester United's necks in the Barclays Premier League title race after destroying fifth-placed Aston Villa.
It was the third stunning Liverpool victory in 12 days, having previously put four past Real Madrid and Manchester United.
The champions' lead is now one point - they also have a game in hand - but Liverpool have now scored more goals than Sir Alex Ferguson's men and have also wiped out their goal-difference advantage.
Villa had no answer to a side with a driven desire to take the title from under United's noses.
Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick with a free-kick and two penalties, with the latter one following the dismissal of goalkeeper Brad Friedel for bringing down Reds striker Fernando Torres.
In the first-half Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera had scored, before Gerrard took over with his set-piece onslaught.
Liverpool had Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa back from respective ankle and hamstring injuries that ruled them out of last weekend's win at Manchester United, with Sami Hyypia and Lucas relegated to the bench.
They were joined there by defender Daniel Agger, who has only played one game since mid-December after a variety of injury problems.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill left out striker Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has scored only twice since before Christmas and was booed by his club's own fans last weekend. Defender Zat Knight was also on the bench, with John Carew and Curtis Davies back in the side.
There was still a solemn start to the proceedings, with a minute's silence following the death yesterday of 56-year-old club secretary Bryce Morrison, after he had flown back from the Champions League draw in Switzerland.
Morrison, who had worked at Anfield for 17 years, suffered a heart attack at home. Both teams wore black armbands.
The game got off to a blistering start, and after eight minutes Liverpool were ahead.
Alonso's header from Gerrard's free-kick cracked against the bar, and Dirk Kuyt reacted quickest to blast the ball home from 12 yards.
At the other end Ashley Young's cross arrowed in from the left and Carew's flick at the near post almost caught out Jose Reina - but the goalkeeper tipped the ball over the angle.
