The Reds cruised past fifth-placed Aston Villa at Anfield 5-0 to lift them into second place, three points ahead of Chelsea, who lost away at Tottenham, and just a point behind Manchester United (who have a game in hand) after their 2-0 defeat away to Fulham. Fernando Torres, who played the full 90 minutes, notched-up his 50th Premier League game for the Reds. Although the forward failed to find the back of the net, he created space for Reina’s first-half goal and earned the penalty from which Gerrard grabbed his hat-trick mid-way through the second-half.

Victory was sealed by half-time as the Reds went in at the break holding a three-goal lead with Kuyt, Riera and Gerrard all scoring in a rampant first 45 minutes from Liverpool. The Anfield club captain grabbed two more goals following the break to complete the rout.

Dirk Kuyt was the first player to get his name on the scoresheet when the Dutch attacker crashed home a loose ball in the box after Gerrard’s inswinging free-kick was headed on to the crossbar by Xabi Alonso.

Martin O’Neills side enjoyed a good period of play following Liverpool’s opener. The Lions tested Pepe Reina on a couple of occasions, but the keeper was more than equal to John Carew’s two efforts on goal.

The Reds continued to dominate possession and their persistence duly paid off as Albert Riera doubled the Red’s lead on 33 minutes following a long clearance from Reina. The winger reacted quickest to the keeper’s punt upfield to crash the ball past a hapless Brad Friedel in the Villa goal.

Steve Gerrard made it 3-0 to the hosts from the spot after Nigel Reo-Coker had fouled Riera in the box. The Liverpool captain sent the keeper the wrong way to score the first of his three goals.

The Liverpool skipper grabbed his second of the afternoon just after the break from a cleverly-worked free-kick. Xabi Alonso tapped the ball to Gerrard who found the back of the net from just outside the area with a right-footed drive.

With just under half an hour remaining, Villa were reduced to ten-men. Brad Friedel brought down Fernando Torres in the area. The Liverpool number ‘9’ look certain to score and the referee had no option but to show the keeper the red card for a professional foul. Gerrard made no mistake from the spot to complete his hat-trick.

Another positive factor from the emphatic victory at Anfield was the Merseysider’s five goals. Sunday’s tally took their goal difference two beyond Premier League leaders Manchester United, and one ahead of third-placed Chelsea.


- Match Stats: Liverpool 5-0 Aston Villa

Liverpool: Reina, Arbeloa (Agger, 75), Carragher, Skrtel, Aurelio, Mascherano, Alonso (Lucas, 66), Gerrard (Ngog, 79), Kuyt, Riera, Torres

Booked: Gerrard

Goals: Kuyt 8, Riera 33, Gerrard 39 pen, 50, 65 pen

Aston Villa: Friedel, Reo-Coker (Guzan, 64), Cuellar, Davies, Luke Young, Milner, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Heskey (Agbonlahor, 59), Carew (Gardner, 88)

Booked: Luke Young, Gardner

Sent Off: Friedel (64)