Master blaster Gerrard

Winter frost bit them, though, and they fell away badly. Gerard Houllier would never go close again. Now the task falls to Rafael Benitez, under serious scrutiny after a close season of heavy spending.

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The Spaniard must hope yesterday's win — secured by a breathtaking Steven Gerrard free-kick — is not an echo of the past but encouragement for the future.

It was a close-run thing but should not have been.Martin Laursen's embarrassing own goal looked to be enough to separate the sides, though the margin ought to have been much bigger.

But then Jamie Carragher handled inexplicably to offer Gareth Barry an equaliser from the penalty spot in the 85th minute and Liverpool looked to have blown the chance to set down a marker with the other members of the Big Four not in action until today. Then came Gerrard.

Benitez said: "It was a fantastic goal and because the team deserved to win it was the right final score for us.

"We were really good but thanks to their keeper we couldn't score. As for their penalty, the ball was going to the hand but you could see a little b it of movement of Carra's hand. After conceding the goal, to score ourselves tells me we are going forward."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill,however, was unhappy at the free-kick award which led directly to Liverpool's winner.

"I just think Gerrard has overrun the ball and played for the free-kick. I don't think it was a foul.But it doesn't matter what 42,000 people think, the referee has given a free-kick and he has scored from it,so it's disappointing as far as we were concerned.

"We started off wanting to be as bright as they are. But when they scored we lost a bit of self-belief and we were chasing the game, so I was pleased to come in just a goal behind."

Expectations were high among both sets of supporters, given that the clubs have American owners looking for a return on their investment: Villa's plan is to move towards the top four and Champions League qualification, Liverpool's to win a first title since 1990.

While O'Neill has spent a relatively meagre £13 million during the close season, Benitez was the most active of all the Premier League managers, the jewel in his crown being the capture of Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid for a fee that will top £25m should Liverpool win trophies.

The Spain striker was the only new face to make the starting line-up, though, with Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin on the bench.Another signing — Yossi Benayoun — was omitted all together, along with Peter Crouch and Javier Mascherano, probably with the midweek Champions League qualifying match in Toulouse in mind.

Liverpool may have strength in depth but it was Villa who seemed more at ease with themselves at the start. Ashley Young and Stiliyan Petrov rotated between the right side and the top of a midfield diamond to pose Liverpool problems, while John Carew also proved a handful leading the line. When Young stung Pepe Reina's hands with a 30-yard volley, it looked as if Villa were serving notice.

Gradually, though, Liverpool gained a foothold in the match.

Torres earned the derision of the Holte End when he fired a shot high over the bar but it was, in fact, preceded by a promisingly powerful run. Gerrard also saw a low, side-footed attempt turned aside by Stuart Taylor.

Then, with a similar move, came Liverpool's goal. Gerrard played in Torres but Taylor again turned aside the side-footed shot. Dirk Kuyt retrieved the ball and crossed low into the six-yard box and while no Liverpool player was on hand,none was needed. Bizarrely, Laursen smashed the ball into his own net.

Villa fans were stunned, then frustrated soon after as their side sought an equaliser,Petrov shooting straight at Reina after Barry had found him in space.

In the second half, Kuyt was offtarget with a low shot and Craig Gardner blocked Gerrard's goalbound shot from close range.Taylor also tipped over a shot by the Liverpool captain after neat work by Torres and Jermaine Pennant.

On came Babel to try to secure a sealing second goal — an encouraging sign that Benitez is willing to attack more. The young Dutchman went narrowly wide with one drive then tested Taylor with another.

Liverpool looked to have been punished for not securing the second goal when Carragher handled Carew's flick-on and Barry drilled home from the spot but, from 25 yards out, Gerrard curled home gloriously in the 87th minute. Now Liverpool just have to learn the lessons of five years ago.