Source: PA
Reds ruin Houllier's return
Aston Villa slumped to their fourth straight loss in all competition as Liverpool recorded a 3-0 win to make it an unhappy return to Anfield for former Reds manager Gerard Houllier.
With Torres given the night off to be with his wife Olalla, who had gone into labour with their second child, David Ngog and Ryan Babel ensured he was not unduly missed with first-half goals.
Maxi Rodriguez added the third in the 55th minute to make it four successive Barclays Premier League victories for Roy Hodgson's side at Anfield.
Set-pieces were a weakness for Villa all night and they were undone by one in the 14th minute. Meireles' clipped delivery picked out Martin Skrtel who speared a header back across goal and the diving Ngog could not fail to nod in from barely three yards.
Two minutes later Liverpool had doubled their lead.Playing on the shoulder of Stephen Warnock, Babel allowed Lucas Leiva's lofted ball to drop out to his right and he swivelled to smash a shot across Brad Friedel and inside the far post.
Villa had one chance to get back in the game just after half-time but Gabriel Agbonlahor's close-range shot from Stewart Downing's cross was half-saved by Jose Reina and the ball cleared by Paul Konchesky. Moments later, Rodriguez and Ngog linked up on the counter attack, allowing the former to fire an emphatic thrid.
