Graphic: scoring goals for fun

If there was a positive for Sir Alex Ferguson to take from this, it is that Aston Villa are Manchester United’s next opponents. Otherwise, the United manager must have felt the butterflies circling in his gut yesterday. A title race that had appeared all but over ten days ago has suddenly been turned on its head, United’s expected procession to a third successive championship halted in its tracks by a Liverpool team that have not only discovered a stomach for a fight but are positively thriving under the pressure of it all.

Rafael Benítez has received all sorts of taunts since his calculated attack on Ferguson at the turn of the year was cited as the reason for a slump so profound that it appeared to have derailed the club’s attempt to win the title, but as he reflected on a magnificent win, the Liverpool manager could have been forgiven for asking who is cracking up now.

Liverpool gave themselves a fighting chance of a first title for 19 years by thumping United 4-1 the previous weekend, but that victory at Old Trafford would have counted for nothing had they slipped up against Villa.

It says everything about Liverpool’s tendency to shoot themselves in the foot domestically that many doubted if they would pass such a test, but as they chewed up and spat out Villa in the most merciless manner, it almost seemed laughable that Benítez and his players had been questioned.

Their response was so emphatic that even a team with the experience of United must be wondering what they have let themselves in for and the champions will be in second place by the time Villa visit Old Trafford on Sunday week should Liverpool succeed where their rivals’ failed this weekend and beat Fulham at Craven Cottage the previous day. There is no doubting that the momentum is well and truly with Liverpool.

Villa were desperately poor, admittedly; Martin O’Neill’s leg-weary team seemingly intent on throwing away their chances of a Champions League place and their humiliation was compounded by a red card for Brad Friedel, but take nothing away from Liverpool. Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso bestrode the midfield, industry and invention personified, Albert Riera and Álvaro Arbeloa had two of their best games in a Liverpool shirt, and buzzing around all of them was Steven Gerrard.

That all three of his goals came from set-pieces, including two penalties, offered clues as to Villa’s failings, but with their captain in the form of his life — he has 21 goals in all competitions this season — and his team-mates playing accomplished supporting roles, Liverpool are an ominous proposition for anyone at present.

Other than a ten-minute window during the first half, when John Carew would have drawn Villa level at 1-1 but for two terrific reflex saves from José Manuel Reina, the visiting team simply could not live with their opponents — outpassed, out-thought and outworked. While Benítez got his tactics spot on, O’Neill’s left a lot to be desired, even if it could not entirely explain the manner or the extent of the defeat. For all the Villa manager’s undoubted qualities, he has a habit of fielding players out of position, and while that might not be too damaging against lesser opposition, it proved a catastrophic move against Liverpool.

Nigel Reo-Coker is no one’s idea of a right back and the point was underlined by Liverpool during a traumatic seven-minute spell for the usual midfield player in the first half when the home team extended their lead to 3-0 to end the game as a contest after Dirk Kuyt had opened the scoring, ramming home the ball after Gerrard’s free kick had been headed on to the bar by Alonso.

Reo-Coker’s first mistake came in the 33rd minute. Having caught Gareth Barry’s aimless free kick, Reina immediately looked for Fernando Torres and punted a long ball upfield that should have been meat and drink for Reo-Coker.

Completely misjudging the flight of the ball under marginal pressure from Torres, however, the former West Ham United player allowed it to bounce, criminally, leaving Riera, who had left Barry in his slipstream, to whack a wonderful half-volley in off the underside of the bar.

Liverpool should have been three in front before Reo-Coker committed his second blunder in the 40th minute. Friedel’s kamikaze pass was intended for Luke Young but went to Arbeloa. Rather than shoot with only the goalkeeper to beat, the full back inexplicably pulled the ball back for Torres and the chance went begging.

Liverpool were relentless and Reo-Coker was not the only one who couldn’t cope, even if he was also culpable for the third, upending Riera in the penalty area with a clumsily timed challenge. Gerrard made no mistake from the spot.

It was simply a case of how many Liverpool might rack up in the second period as they bombarded Villa, Stiliyan Petrov and Barry, doing his chances of a summer move to Anfield little good, overwhelmed by Mascherano, Alonso and Gerrard.

Three became four when Gerrard stroked home a 20-yard free kick before the England midfield player claimed his hat-trick with another coolly converted penalty after Friedel, the former Liverpool goalkeeper, brought down Torres and was promptly given his marching orders.

Having embarrassed Villa, though, Liverpool will hope the Midlands club do them a favour against United. If that seems implausible on this evidence, the results in recent weeks would suggest that anything is possible. Game on.

Liverpool (4-2-3-1): J M Reina 7 - Á Arbeloa 7, M Skrtel 7, J Carragher 7, F Aurélio 7 - J Mascherano 8, X Alonso 8 - D Kuyt 7, S Gerrard 8, A Riera 8 - F Torres 7. Substitutes: Lucas Leiva 6 (for Alonso, 66min), D Agger (for Arbeloa, 77), D Ngog (for Gerrard, 80). Not used: D Cavalieri, A Dossena, S Hyypia, N El Zhar. Next: Fulham (a).

Aston Villa (4-4-2): B Friedel 5 - N Reo-Coker 3, C Cuéllar 5, C Davies 5, L Young 5 - J Milner 6, S Petrov 5, G Barry 5, A Young 5 - E Heskey 4, J Carew 6. Substitutes: G Agbonlahor 5 (for Heskey, 58min), B Guzan 5 (for Reo-Coker, 65), C Gardner (for Carew, 89). Not used: N Delfouneso, Z Knight, M Salifou, N Shorey. Next: Manchester United (a).

Referee: M Atkinson Attendance: 44,131