March has been a magical and momentous month for Liverpool Football Club,
but now they have hope and can close the gap to a point
if they can beat an Aston Villa side that, after a wonderful season themselves,
have found it hardgoing in recent weeks.
Liverpool are going to have a corner inside the first minute.
Aurelio will deliver.
And the ball is headed in towards Brad Friedel.
Martin Skrtel still looking for that first Liverpool goal.
The ball is whipped in, and it's come back off the bar,
and it's in! Dirk Kuyt for Liverpool.
It is the perfect start for the Reds, and Dirk Kuyt has his first goal in six games.
A tenth goal of the season for the Dutchman.
Think the ball actually came off Alonso in the penalty area, but you don't save them.
Here's Riera, trying to get away from Reo-Coker,
and it's towards Gerrard!
Well, he tried his best, it was a very, very difficult chance.
Petrov.
Ashley Young.
Good save by the goalkeeper, it was an instinctive effort from John Carew.
Carew, who's got a goal every other game since he joined from Lyon.
Great record, really.
That might go in as well! Off Ashley Young.
And Reina has made another really important save for Liverpool.
Really has played well this season. That's Barry, and Liverpool came out.
Well, Riera is in here...
Oh, what a goal! Albert Riera with something absolutely brilliant.
Pepe Reina takes the assist, he celebrates, Riera is the man who scores the goal.
And what an absolute belter.
And it gives Liverpool breathing space.
That's awful. He knows what he was trying there but we certainly don't,
because there wasn't a Villa player within five yards.
Liverpool could profit with Riera, and that is a challenge...
which will give Liverpool a penalty. It was rash from Reo-Coker.
Well, cool as a cucumber against Madrid and Manchester United.
There's not even any question, is there, when he stands in front of goal these days?
That's 12 from 13 penalties now, and he scored the rebound from the one he missed!
The wall is absolutely packed.
Can Steven Gerrard find a way through it?
He can! And he can score. Two again for the skipper.
And once again, as cool as you like, typical Steven Gerrard.
He strokes it where others really go for the blast.
A long 36-and-a-half minutes or so for Aston Villa.
Towards Heskey - who will get there, and really should have done better.
Torres is in here, this could be five for Liverpool.
Still going - that's a penalty.
And Brad Friedel's afternoon may be cut short here.
It's a bad day for Friedel, and he's unlucky.
Brad Guzan is coming on for a Premier League debut here, he's another American.
And his first task may be picking the ball out of the net,
Steven Gerrard now hunting a Premier League hat-trick.
He never misses, does he?
No. Hat-trick for Steven Gerrard, two penalties, and Liverpool have five for the day.
There was no lack of intensity or professionalism with that spot kick.
Riera is on the charge, and Lucas is there.
He's never scored a Premier League goal.
That's a lovely header by Riera, Gerrard.
Liverpool looking to punish Villa even more here.
They look as though they could as well, the ball through wasn't brilliant,
Mascherano's shot and a good save by Guzan.