Liverpool embarrass Aston Villa by inflicting worst home defeat for 81 years

Daniel Sturridge marked his return to the Liverpool starting line-up with a goal as Jurgen Klopp’s men thrashed a hapless Aston Villa 6-0 at Villa Park.

Villa looked disjointed right from the off, as Philippe Coutinho was allowed time and space to pick out Sturridge on 16 minutes for the England hitman to head the opener. Sturridge has three league goals this campaign – all against Villa – and looked fresh on his first start since early-December, clearly relishing linking up with Coutinho and Roberto Firmino.

The home fans grew more and more frustrated as Villa continued to give the ball away and look vulnerable at the back, and they were two down on 25 minutes. Former Villa man James Milner floated a free-kick into the middle, which evaded everyone and went straight in.

After the break, the floodgates opened as the discontent was palpable in the Holte End. Emre Can fired the third after a fine move, substitute Divock Origi netted a fourth moments after replacing Sturridge, before Nathaniel Clyne got in on the act to add a fifth.

Kolo Toure was the unlikely scorer of the sixth to complete Villa’s humiliation as the exasperated Villa faithful headed for an early exit.

The result sees Liverpool taste success for the first time in six in all competitions, but Villa look doomed, and look set to fall out of the top flight with nothing more than a whimper.

16’ - GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool. It had to be him! Just over quarter of an hour after making his comeback, Sturridge breaks the deadlock. Wonderful cross from Coutinho. Villa staring down the barrel again. Coutinho had all the time in the world to whip the ball in from the left, but his delivery was perfect, right onto the head of Sturridge, who guided it expertly into the bottom corner.

25’ - GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool. Villa old boy Milner with the second. So avoidable. After Okore's needless foul, Milner floats one into the middle, but it evades everyone and goes straight in! Bizarre, but Liverpool will take it. So poor from Villa.

44’ - SAVE! Brilliant from Mark Bunn to deny Sturridge. Fantastic pass from Coutinho opened Villa up, ball is worked to Sturridge, he curls at goal, but Bunn is across to palm away.

58’ - GOAL! Aston Villa 0-3 Liverpool. Wonderful strike from Emre Can nets him his first league goal of the season, but all Villa's own doing again. Awful from Bacuna as he dwells on the ball far too long and is dispossessed, Firmino is in, he cuts it back to Can who fires an unstoppable effort past Bunn. Villa are beyond bad here. Fans heading for exits.

63’ - GOAL! Aston Villa 0-4 Liverpool. That didn't take long, as Origi races clear to score seconds after coming off the bench! Villa all over the place. Coutinho plays Origi in behind, who uses his space to pull clear and beats Bunn. Too easy.

65’ - GOAL! Aston Villa 0-5 Liverpool. Humiliation for Villa as Nathaniel Clyne finishes at the second attempt. Anti-Randy Lerner chants boom from the Holte End as Clyne easily gets ahead of Veretout, sees his effort save by Bunn, but the full-back reacts fastest to tap home the rebound.

71’ - GOAL! Aston Villa 0-6 Liverpool. A St Valentine's Day massacre. Just awful from Villa, as Toure is free to head home. Just an absolute shambles. Toure is unmarked from a corner, all he has to do is make contact, and his header loops in as Villa stand and watch.

80’ - WOODWORK! When it is not your day, it is not your day. Sinclair curls a brilliant effort at goal, but it clips the outside of the post.

Daniel Sturridge has scored five goals in four Premier League appearances for Liverpool against Aston Villa. Sturridge has the best minutes per goal ratio of any Liverpool player in Premier League history (118 mins per goal).

This was the first time that Aston Villa have conceded six goals at home in a league game since October 1983 (2-6 vs Arsenal).

This was Liverpool’s joint-biggest Premier League win away from home (fourth 6-0 win). This was the 8th 6-0 away win in Premier League history – four of those have been wins for Liverpool.

Are Villa the worst ever? Derby and Sunderland might have something to say about it, but at least they had a go, even if the quality was severely lacking. Villa were woeful right from the off against Liverpool, but what will infuriate the long-suffering Holte End the most will be the lack of fight and effort from their side. Jurgen Klopp’s men did not have to get out of second gear as they cruised to a comprehensive win, with zero pressure applied from the hosts. Their decline has been cataclysmic, and it may not stop at relegation. Dark times are ahead it seems.

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool): Simply put, Liverpool are a much better side with the fit England hitman playing. His movement and positional sense are superb, and Villa’s non-existent backline could not cope. Could have had more goals, but didn’t need to over exert himself to cause all sorts of problems. Now, the real test is staying fit.

Aston Villa: Bunn 5, Richards 2, Okore 3, Lescott 2, Cissokho 2, Westwood 2, Gana 4, Bacuna 5, Veretout 2, Gil 6, Agbonlahor 4. Subs: Sinclair 5, Hutton 5, Lyden 5

Liverpool: Mignolet 6, Clyne 7, Toure 7, Sakho 7, Moreno 8, Can 8, Henderson 7, Milner 7, Coutinho 8, Firmino 8, Sturridge 9. Subs: Benteke 6, Origi 7, Stewart 7.