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| STEVIE GLEE ... Gerrard celebrates after netting from the penalty spot |
ASTON VILLA'S survival hopes were dealt a major blow as Liverpool battled back from a goal down to secure maximum points.
Christian Benteke handed relegation-haunted Villa the lead with a fine finish in the 31st minute.
The hosts were slow out of the blocks in the second half and Jordan Henderson quickly pulled Liverpool level.
But there was worse to come when Steven Gerrard converted from the spot to condemn Paul Lambert's men to a 15th Premier League defeat of the season.
UP AND RUNNING ... Christian Benteke fires Aston Villa into the lead
Villa spurned a golden chance to break the deadlock after 16 minutes.
Matthew Lowton swept a beautiful ball into the path of Gabriel Agbonlahor but the striker somehow managed to fire straight at Pepe Reina when it appeared easier to score.
Liverpool also came close a few minutes later when Luis Suarez stung Brad Guzan’s hands with a powerful left-foot shot on the turn.
VILLA THRILLER ... Christian Benteke celebrates
Suarez threatened again midway through the first half but Nathan Baker used his physical presence to force the striker to fire wide when well placed.
With the game swinging from end to end, Villa grabbed the lead courtesy of Benteke's crisp strike.
Ashley Westwood arrowed a long ball towards Agbonlahor and his neat touch teed up Benteke to lash home an instinctive first-time effort.
SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT ... Brad Guzan reacts to Benteke's goal
Liverpool should have been level in the 41st minute but Suarez saw his effort blocked by the legs of Guzan after Barry Bannan’s misplaced pass had put him in on goal.
And Guzan came to the rescue again just before half-time, beating away a rasping effort from Gerrard.
The visitors found the equaliser they had been threatening to produce just two minutes into the second half.
ALL SQUARE ... Jordan Henderson equalises for Liverpool
Philippe Coutinho played the perfect ball to unlock the Villa defence and Henderson burst clear before calmly dinking it beyond Guzan.
With his side back on level terms, Gerrard gave Lee Mason a mouthful after the match official booked him for a mistimed challenge on Agbonlahor.
Coutinho should have put Liverpool in front in the 55th minute but dragged his shot agonisingly wide after being set free by Suarez.
MIDFIELD MARVEL ... Jordan Henderson celebrates
And the Reds were unlucky not to find the net two minutes later when Glen Johnson's deflected effort thumped against the post.
But they were gifted the chance to go ahead when Baker sliced through Suarez to concede a penalty, which Gerrard promptly dispatched on the hour mark.
With the game seemingly slipping away from the hosts, Benteke saw Gerrard acrobatically clear his goalbound header off the line.
SPOT ON ... Steven Gerrard puts Liverpool ahead
But for all Villa's hustle and bustle in the closing stages, they needed Guzan to keep the score respectable by twice denying Suarez.
And their misery was compounded when Benteke was denied a stoppage-time equaliser by an offside flag.
STAR MAN — STEVEN GERRARD (Liverpool)
ASTON VILLA: Guzan 7, Lowton 6, Vlaar 6, Baker 6, Bennett 6, Sylla 6 (El Ahmadi 5), Westwood 6, Bannan 5 (Delph 5), Weimann 5 (N’Zogbia 5), Benteke 7, Agbonlahor 6. Subs not used: Given, Bowery, Dawkins, Lichaj. Booked: Westwood.
LIVERPOOL: Reina 7, Johnson 7, Agger 7, Carragher 7, Enrique 7, Lucas 6, Gerrard 9, Henderson 8, Coutinho 8 (Sterling 6), Downing 6, Suarez 8. Subs not used: Jones, Sturridge, Coates, Suso, Shelvey, Skrtel. Booked: Gerrard.
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