Sturridge glows as Liverpool demolish Aston Villa

Liverpool, however, continued to pose
the greater threat in possession and a
set-piece brought the second goal on 25
minutes.
Okore was guilty of conceding a needless
free-kick on the Villa right and Milner’s
delivery evaded everyone, including
goalkeeper Mark Bunn, and nestled
inside the far post.
It owed much to fortune, but from that
moment Villa caved in.
The Merseysiders ought to have added to
their lead on the half-hour when Villa’s
shell-shocked defenders gifted them
another chance.
Milner was given time and space for a
cushioned header from a cross by
Roberto Firmino, but Jordan Henderson
saw his low drive deflected wide off
Okore.
Liverpool began to take control with
Bunn saving a shot by Firmino and then,
a minute before half-time, diving to his
right to pull off a better save from a
curling effort by Sturridge.
Early in the second half Leandro Bacuna
cut in from the flank for Villa, but his
tame shot was held at the second attempt
by Mignolet.
Villa imploded again in the 58th minute
when Can started and finished the move
for Liverpool’s third goal.
Bacuna’s awful first touch allowed Can
to win possession and feed Firmino
before continuing his run, receiving the
Brazilian’s pull-back and hammering
home a shot from the edge of the area.
It was 4-0 five minutes later when
Coutinho’s fine pass exploited a Villa
defence in disarray and Origi controlled
the ball with his first touch of the game
and finished with his second.
Clyne added the fifth by forcing home
the rebound after Bunn saved his initial
shot in a goalmouth scramble.
And Villa’s embarrassment deepened
when they gave Toure a free header on
71 minutes to nod home a Henderson
cross for 6-0.
Thousands of seats had emptied by the
80th minute, but the Villa fans that
remained mustered ironic cheers as
substitute Scott Sinclair played a one-two
with Lescott and curled a shot against
the woodwork.