Aston Villa fell to their heaviest home defeat in 81 years as Liverpool ran out 6-0 winners at Villa Park.
Daniel Sturridge and James Milner found the net in the first half, before Emre Can, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Clyne and Kolo Toure all added to the scoring after the break.
The hosts did come close to pulling one back late on when Scott Sinclair saw his shot come back off the crossbar, but this was to be a real day to forget for the division's bottom side.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League meeting between Aston Villa and Liverpool at Villa Park. The Villans have seen their outside hopes of survival given a real boost in recent weeks, courtesy of just one defeat in their last five, but they know that victories are required in the vast majority of their remaining home games.
It has been a different story for today's opponents in recent weeks, meanwhile, having picked up maximum points just once in their last six outings heading into this showdown. Jurgen Klopp has not yet fully worked his magic at Anfield, while off-field matters have also surfaced of late due to the proposed - and since rebuffed - plans to increase ticket prices next term.
This match may be sandwiched in between two real heavyweight clashes taking place elsewhere at the top end of the Premier League, but there is still plenty riding on events at Villa Park. Defeat for the Villans this afternoon and you sense that the last remaining hope of staying up will slowly ebb away heading into the final stretch of the campaign. For Liverpool, meanwhile, they simply need to win to keep up their own hopes of finishing in a European berth.
TEAM NEWS!
ASTON VILLA XI: Bunn; Richards, Okore, Lescott, Cissokho; Westwood, Gana; Bacuna, Veretout, Gil; Agbonlahor
LIVERPOOL XI: Mignolet, Clyne, Toure, Sakho, Moreno, Can, Henderson, Milner, Coutinho, Firmino, Sturridge
Well the big team news from Villa Park is the fact that Daniel Sturridge starts for Liverpool in the Premier League for the first time in four months. Jurgen Klopp hinted in the week that the injury-plagued striker was in contention to play a part, and he has opted to throw him in from the start after being given 30 minutes from the bench against West Ham United in midweek.
Klopp has put his squad rotation to good use by making nine changes in all from that disappointed FA Cup exit in midweek, with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino also being named in attack alongside the returning Sturridge. A hamstring injury will keep Joe Allen out of the team for the next month or so, while Martin Skrtel and Dejan Lovren are not yet fit enough to make their own first-team returns.
That means a place in the heart of defence once more for Mamadou Sakho and Kolo Toure, who will have the marauding Alberto Moreno and Nathaniel Clyne either side. The big news really is the long-awaited return of Sturridge to the starting lineup, though, more than two months after his last start in the League Cup romp against Southampton on the South Coast. Klopp, and Liverpool fans in general, will be praying for a similar showing in the West Midlands today.
In terms of the home side, Villa boss Remi Garde has decided to keep things the same following the much-needed win over Norwich City here last weekend. The Frenchman claimed in the week that an improvement would be needed if his side had any hopes of taking a point or more this afternoon, but it is as you were in terms of the starting lineup from that 2-1 triumph eight days ago.
That means another chance for Gabriel Agbonlahor to impress up top following a rare goal last time out, with Garde looking as though he will stick with the Christmas tree formation for this game. Jordan Veretout and Carles Gil will provide the attacking support for Agbonlahor, while three others sit deep in midfield to help win the all-important battle in the centre of the field.
Gil was actually an injury doubt for today's game, but he is clearly fit enough to play a part having been named in the starting lineup. There is no such luck for Rudy Gestede, however, as he misses out on the matchday squad altogether after failing to shake off a problem of his own. It is a similar case for midfielder Jack Grealish, who injured his ankle in training.
BENCH WATCH!
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Guzan, Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Hutton, Lyden, Davis
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Ward, Benteke, Caulker, Origi, Ibe, Stewart, Flanagan
As well as losing Allen to injury in the week, Klopp also faces being without Adam Lallana for this clash. The British duo are two of three to drop out from last weekend's 2-2 draw with Sunderland, with Lovren the other casualty from last time out. There is some good news for the Reds, however, as Divock Origi is in contention following injury, while Villa have Scott Sinclair among their attacking back-up options.
A welcome sight for Liverpool fans this afternoon, as Daniel Sturridge returns to the starting lineup for the first time in the Premier League since October. His only other start came in a League Cup romp against Southampton at the back end of last year, so he certainly has time to make up when running out at Villa Park this afternoon.
Things certainly looked rosy for Liverpool during that cup hammering of the Saints a couple of months back, but since then things have stagnated just a little. There is a League Cup final to look forward to later this month, of course, while the Reds also remain in the Europa League ahead of its resumption next week, but in the league matters are not looking quite so bright as they currently sit 11th.
Results yesterday did not entirely favour Liverpool, it is fair to say, meaning that they head into this game sitting in the bottom half of the table. Klopp requires time - and money - to put his spin on things at Anfield, so he will not be judged on the end position this campaign. The German will surely see anything less than a top-six finish as a disappointment, though, having been welcomed to Merseyside with such high acclaim in the first half of the campaign.
Victory at Villa Park here today and the Reds will begin their ascent back up the table, knowing that three points will see them climb as high as eighth come the end of play. Six points is currently the gap between Klopp's charges and a place in the Europa League next term, while the gap is a further six points off fourth - a margin that is surely too much to make up in the remaining months of the campaign.
Liverpool can be forgiven for taking their eye off the ball in the coming weeks in the Premier League, as European and cup commitments take centre stage. Their next top-flight fixture after this is not until March 2, in fact, when they face off against Manchester City. That comes a few days after the two sides meeting in the League Cup final at Wembley, and there is also the small matter of a double-header against Augsburg in the Europa League before that.
Finishing as high as possible in the league is vital for Liverpool, however, especially when it comes to luring players to the club during the summer months. The gap is continuing to close between the traditional heavyweights and the also-rans - just look at the likes of West Ham United signing Dimitri Payet - so the Reds need to build some momentum in the coming weeks, starting at Villa Park today.
One win in their last six in the Premier League, including three defeats, is not good enough for a team harbouring aspirations of challenging for the top four. Fourteen goals have been shipped during this spell, too, while they have also failed to find the net in half of those games. The good news for Liverpool, if you can call it that, is they have not lost a game they have taken the lead in this term, while opponents Villa have yet to win from a losing position.
DID YOU KNOW? Aston Villa have won just 19 of their last 82 games on home soil stretching back to December 2011. This famous English ground is far from a fortress these days, although results have improved here since Garde took to the helm, culminating in that 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Norwich last time out.
Remi Garde has done well to instil some confidence in his players, and indeed supporters, since taking over from Tim Sherwood last year. Aston Villa are still eight points from safety, but they can take some real hope from current league leaders Leicester City who were in a near-identical situation this time last year.
A surprise victory for Sunderland over Manchester United 24 hours ago certainly did not help matters, but results on the whole just about went in Villa's favour on Saturday. Norwich City let slip a two-goal lead, so a point from their home meeting with West Ham United does not look all that great on the face of it, while Bournemouth and Swansea City - among the small group still in real trouble - suffered home setbacks.
The onus really is on the Villans to continue picking up results of their own, yet draws will not be enough alone to pull off the near impossible. One defeat in five certainly offers hope, as does keeping a clean sheet in three of those outings, but supporters do not need telling that time is fast running out to dig themselves out of a whole that seemed to grow by the week earlier in the campaign.
Villa's record of eight points from their last five outings is actually as many as they managed from their opening 20 games, showing just how bleak things were in the first half of the campaign. The scoring tally has been a constant problem, with just six goals being scored in the opening 45 minutes of games so far this season - a division low in that respect. In short: things have certainly improved but more is needed if the drop is to be avoided for this proud club.
Villa have taken only two points from their 12 games against teams in the top half of the table this term, so it is perhaps good news to see Liverpool slip down to 11th ahead of kickoff today. Stoke City and Everton provide their opposition in the next two outings - two mid-table sides who may be taken by surprise should the Villans head into those fixtures with momentum on their side.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Villa have claimed just one top-flight win from their previous 17 meetings against Liverpool at Villa Park, with that solitary triumph coming in May 2011. The Reds have also managed to keep a clean sheet in five of their last seven at this ground, while at the same time claiming more victories against today's opponents (25) than against any other side in their Premier League history.
One man I have yet to mention is Christian Benteke, who many believe was largely to thank for Villa staying up in past seasons. The Belgian striker scored 49 goals in his 101 appearances for the West Midlands outfit - an impressive rate that goes a long way to showing just why Liverpool spent so big to land him in the summer. It has not quite worked out for him so far at Anfield, but you would certainly not bet against him finding the net here today.
Roberto Firmino has instead been given the nod, and he can boat some impressive form of late. The Brazilian has five in five for the Reds in the top flight, having previously scored one goal in 17 outings. It could be a busy afternoon for the home side's backline, you feel, although three clean sheets in their last five suggests that it could be a tight and cagey affair decided by the odd goal.
We are now just over five minutes away from kickoff at Villa Park, so let us quickly check out the pre-match thoughts from both camps heading into this showdown.
Remi Garde: "If we are playing the same game against Liverpool [as against Norwich], we will have no chance to have points. My job is to say 'well done lads for the victory and three points but the football we played won't be enough to take points from the Liverpool game. We won the Norwich game but not in the best way we could have done it. I was not completely happy with the game we played."
Jurgen Klopp: "It is the first time I've had [fit strikers to choose from] - usually anyone who could walk or stand up in a morning played! Now we have the situation where hopefully we have to make some decisions. Daniel Sturridge feels good. We have to think about how we can manage the minutes but he made a big step in the last week and that is good."
So Garde putting some pressure on his players to up their game this afternoon on the back of that victory over Norwich - a victory which kept hopes alive of clawing their way to safety. Villa are desperate to extend their positive run of form in front of their supporters, while Liverpool - with Daniel Sturridge among their ranks - know that a win will take them back into the top half and up to eighth.
Both sets of players have made their way out of the tunnel at Villa Park, with kickoff now just a couple of minutes away. Which way will this one go?...
KICKOFF! Villa get us underway at an expectant Villa Park. Home supporters sense that they can pull off a big victory this afternoon, but this is a fixture that the Villans have historically struggled in.
Henderson sprays a fine ball out to Clyne high up on the right, but the full-back's cross has far too much on it. Clear to see that the visitors have no intention of holding back; instead getting bodies into advanced positions from the off.
A positive start for Liverpool, who are clearly in the mood to knock the ball around this afternoon. Villa just having to sit back in these early stages, but so far they have not been able to spring any sort of counter-attacking move against the Reds.
Much better from the home side over the past couple of minutes. Following an opening spell in which Liverpool dominating possession, Villa have seen plenty of the ball and even got a decent set-piece delivery into the box. Lescott met it but his header was cleared away with relative ease.
Almost 10 minutes in now at Villa Park and we have still yet to see any shot of note - on target or off. Been very equal in terms of possession so far, with the hosts now on top following Liverpool's early dominance on the ball.
Another positive spell for Villa comes to a rather abrupt halt before the ball can make its way into the final third. Liverpool forming a strong defensive shell, but the onus is on the Villans' attacking players to get in behind and force something.
Some slack defending almost allows Sturridge a clean shot on goal, but he cannot adjust his feet in time. It has been a match devoid of any real excitement so far, yet Villa will be the happier of the two with the way things are panning out.
Agbonlahor puts his spring to good use by winning a ball in the air, but it has a little too much on it for Gil to latch on to. Very sombre atmosphere inside Villa Park at the moment, which is pretty much a catch-22 situation - not a great deal to shout about, in truth.
GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-1 LIVERPOOL (DANIEL STURRIDGE)
The first attempt on goal has finally arrived - and it leads to the breakthrough goal. It has taken Daniel Sturridge just 16 minutes to make his mark under Jurgen Klopp in the Premier League, getting on the end of Coutinho's fine cross from the left to head the ball beyond the reach of Bunn. Questions need to be asked of the hosts' defence - why was the cross allowed to come in?
It has certainly been a slow burner, but that Sturridge goal - the first attempt of any note on goal - has allowed Liverpool to express themselves a little more. Disappointment for Villa, though, having made a positive enough start to the contest prior to that killer blow.
Set-pieces are proving to be Villa's only hope of getting the ball into the box at the moment, but the latest cross is headed calmly back into the hands of Mignolet. The hosts just need to settle themselves back into the game before picking their opponents off.
SHOT! Villa finally get away their first shot of the match, but it is not the cleanest of strikes by Westwood. Toure's clearance fell nicely for the midfielder, who blasted well wide from 25 yards out on the volley.
GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-2 LIVERPOOL (JAMES MILNER)
Villa's hopes of claiming maximum points from this game have surely evaporated, with just a little over a quarter of the match played. James Milner whipped in a free kick from the left-hand side which went straight in without a touch. We have seen it happen so many times this season, including at the Stadium of Light yesterday, but questions must always be asked of the goalkeeper in that situation.
So two shots for Liverpool and two goals. Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring 16 minutes in, before James Milner doubled his side's advantage against his down-and-out former club less than 10 minutes later.
CHANCE! Villa heads have well and truly dropped since that second goal went in, which is not a great sign with an hour of football still left to play. Henderson really should have made it three after being picked out by Milner's knockdown, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner.
We saw Liverpool throw away a two-goal advantage a week ago, remember, but no real signs of that happening at the moment. Far too comfortable for the visitors, who are simply knocking the ball around unopposed at the moment. Garde may need to shuffle things around at the break.
SAVE! Some nice interplay between Firmino and Moreno down the left flank culminates with the latter getting in behind the Villa defence. The Spaniard even got a shot away at the end of the move from a somewhat tight angle, but Bunn was down routinely enough to keep it out at his front post.
Coutinho bends a free kick a good yard over the bar after Villa conceded a cheap foul on the edge of the box. The division's bottom side have shown nothing to suggest that they can turn this into a contest, with that one wayward Westwood strike all they have to show for their attacking play.
This first half just appears to be petering out a little, something which will obviously suit Liverpool far more than their opponents. That said, Villa have seen far more of the ball over the past couple of minutes, so there is just a little hope of a comeback.
Arguably Villa's brightest moment of the match so far ends with Bacuna swinging in a low cross for Mignolet to easily collect at his front post. A few groans around Villa Park, with supporters expecting far more quality at the end of a decent team move.
Clyne again does well to find himself in an advanced position on the right, but he fails to get a cross into the box. Just the one shot so far for Villa still, with the interval now just a few minutes away.
SAVE! Huge save from Bunn to keep his side just about in this match. Liverpool have upped the tempo over the last few minutes, and when Milner was given acres of space to pick out a teammate, the ball eventually made its way to Sturridge who looked to bend the ball into the top corner. Bunn was equal to it, though, palming the shot away for Westwood to clear.
YELLOW CARD! Leandro Bacuna picked up a yellow prior to that Sturridge chance, incidentally, for his challenge on Coutinho. Two minutes of added time to be played at Villa Park.
HALF TIME: ASTON VILLA 0-2 LIVERPOOL
All very comfortable for Liverpool at the break, then, as they take a two-goal lead into the interval. It has not been the greatest of performances from the Reds, but they did all that was required to seemingly put this game out of their opponents' reach at this midway stage.
It took until the 16-minute mark until the first shot of any note arrived, and it provided the breakthrough moment in the contest as Sturridge met Coutinho's fine lofted cross to head home. It was the Englishman's fifth goal in four appearances against the Villans, in what is his first league start under Jurgen Klopp's tenure.
Milner then made it two with the Reds' second shot of the match, this time scoring directly from a free kick which went right the way through without a touch. In between those two goals, Westwood blasted wide from Villa's only shot of the half, but Liverpool were soon well on top when Firmino and Moreno linked up for the latter to force Bunn into a save.
Bunn also had to be at full stretch to turn away a Sturridge curler just before the break, ensuring that it remains 2-0 at half time. Plenty for Remi Garde to thing about, then, but will the Frenchman change things around ahead of the restart? Let us check out the options available to both him and opposite number Jurgen Klopp.
ASTON VILLA SUBS: Guzan, Clark, Sinclair, Richardson, Hutton, Lyden, Davis
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Ward, Benteke, Caulker, Origi, Ibe, Stewart, Flanagan
It has been a threat-free afternoon for Jurgen Klopp thus far. Daniel Sturridge and James Milner bagged a goal apiece in the opening 45 minutes to put Liverpool well on their way against basement boys Aston Villa.
RESTART! We are back underway at Villa Park, with the hosts desperately trying to find a route back into this game. A goal will change everything, of course, but they have been few and far between here this season.
SAVE! Positive enough start to the half for Villa, as Bacuna cuts inside and gets away a rare shot on goal. Mignolet failed to collect the ball at the first attempt, but was quickly on the follow-up before a home player was in sight.
Agbonlahor is currently down receiving some treatment. Garde opted against making any changes at the break, but he may be forced into action here if the striker remains down. Early signs are not great...
Clyne's cross is headed behind for a corner, which ultimately comes to little. Good news for Villa - Agbonlahor is back on the field of play after limping off a couple of minutes ago.
Moreno, who has had a really good game today, sends in a fine cross right across the face of goal, which Villa are happy to see played behind. The visitors more likely to add the game's third goal at the moment, as Milner's cross is headed to safety.
For the first time today, the match becomes incredibly stretched as both sides take it in turns to break forward. Liverpool looking by far the more likely to score when that happens, though, with Villa lacking options high up the pitch at the moment.
ASTON VILLA SUB! Agbonlahor succumbs to injury, and this time there is to be no shaking it off. Sinclair comes on in his place, with Garde being forced to change things around.
GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-3 LIVERPOOL (EMRE CAN)
Well if it was not over beforehand, it certainly is now! Emre Can lets rip with a belter from the edge of the box, which left Bunn with no chance. That is the Liverpool man's first Premier League strike of the season, which will surely help lift his side into eighth place.
SAVE! Villa respond well to their latest setback, as Gueye leads a charge from midfield. The ball is played into the path of Bacuna, who fires a shot across goal for Mignolet to push to safety.
GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-4 LIVERPOOL (DIVOCK ORIGI)
It is now officially a rout. Coutinho threads the ball around the back for Origi, who has been on the field for a matter of seconds, to race on to and calmly slot beyond the reach of Bunn. Villa completely ripped apart there.
GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-5 LIVERPOOL (NATHANIEL CLYNE)
Unbelievably bad defending from Villa yet again. A free kick into the box was not dealt with, allowing Clyne to get a clean shot on goal. Bunn did well to keep out the initial effort, but Clyne did not give up hope and he was there to tap the ball home from a few yards out. Mass exodus at Villa Park.
For those who like their stats, Origi scored just 37 seconds after coming on - the fastest goal by a sub in PL 2015-16. Villa now desperate for full time.
So three goals in the space of just seven minutes has turned a routine victory for Liverpool into their most impressive result of the campaign - in terms of goalscoring, at least. This looked a strong Reds' lineup, and they are showing their quality with this second-half display.
GOAL! ASTON VILLA 0-6 LIVERPOOL (KOLO TOURE)
This defending is something else. Toure, eight yards from goal, is left with a yard of space all around him and simply makes contact with Henderson's corner to make it six for Liverpool. The Reds could still easily move up another gear and reach double figures here.
LIVERPOOL SUB! Roberto Firmino leaves the pitch to be replaced by Christian Benteke. If things were not bad enough for Villa, it could be about to come a whole lot worse with the introduction of their former hero.
YELLOW CARD! Jordan Veretout is shown a yellow card after allowing the frustration to get to him. Liverpool just toying with Villa now heading into the final stages of this one-way contest.
OFF THE BAR! So unlucky to a consolation goal for Villa, as substitute Sinclair sends a curled effort back off the crossbar. Some applause from home supporters after that - hard to tell whether it was sarcastic or genuine.
Liverpool have taken their foot off the gas following that sixth goal of the game, which is allowing Villa to get their foot on the ball a little more. Both sides will take full time right about now.
Villa remain eight points from safety, then, with their goal difference taking one almighty dent this afternoon. For Liverpool, on the other hand, they are up to eighth place ahead of their Premier League hiatus.
ASTON VILLA SUB! Richards is replaced by Hutton for the closing stages. You have got to wonder how the club captain picks up his teammates for the remainder of the campaign after this massive defeat.
A super volleyed cross into the box by Clyne is turned away before it can be tapped home in a central position. Liverpool just upping their game a little over the past couple of minutes, perhaps sensing a seventh goal in the West Midlands.
Not since 1935 have Villa suffered a defeat like this on home soil, but their misery is coming to an end with just a couple of minutes remaining of normal time. Great way to warm-up for the upcoming League Cup final as far as Liverpool are concerned.
Just three minutes of added time to be played at Villa Park. All the noise understandably being made by just one section of this famous ground. What a day for those travelling supporters!
Villa seeing plenty of the ball in added time, but if truth be told they are more than happy to hear that full-time whistle. Around 60 seconds remaining of this contest, which has effectively been over for a long time now.
FULL TIME: ASTON VILLA 0-6 LIVERPOOL
What an afternoon for Liverpool. Six different players on the scoresheet to inflict on Aston Villa their worst home defeat in 81 years. The two-goal deficit at the break offered just a glimmer of hope that the Villans could rescue something, but the visitors turned on the style in the second half to get the job done.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events in the West Midlands, but before leaving you I will point you in the direction of our on-the-whistle report from Villa Park. Be sure to stick around for plenty of reaction from this one-sided affair over the coming hours. Thanks for joining!
