VILLA V LFC: THE LAST FIVE

Liverpool travel to Villa Park on Sunday hoping to maintain their 100 per cent start to the league season. The Reds have yet to hit top gear in their opening two fixtures but will have to be on the ball against Martin O'Neill's men in what promises to be their biggest test to date.

Here's what happened the last five times we visited Villa Park:


Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool
Barclays Premier League - August 2007

The Reds made an impressive start to this opening day encounter and deservedly took the lead on the half-hour mark when Martin Laursen turned Dirk Kuyt's cut back into his own net. However, despite dominating, Rafa Benitez's men failed to make their superiority count and were punished with six minutes remaining when Gareth Barry fired home an equaliser from the penalty spot. It looked like the Reds would once again have to settle for a point until Steven Gerrard popped up with a sensational last-gasp free-kick to stun the hosts and record Liverpool's first opening day victory for five years.

Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
Premiership – March 2007

Martin O'Neill described this ugly encounter as a chess match, though even Gary Kasparov would have been hard pushed to enjoy it. Rafa was even more blunt after his side failed to break down a stubborn Villa backline: "I think the only positive is that we got a point. It's clear that it wasn't a good game and we weren't able to create chances."

Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool
Premiership –November 2005

The Villa fans afforded a warm welcome to Peter Crouch on a return to his old stomping ground, but the England striker was in no mood for pleasantries as he inspired his new club to victory. Crouchy was on fire when he came off the bench in the second half: first being hauled down by Liam Ridgewell to earn a penalty which Steven Gerrard converted on his 300th appearance; then playing a part in Xabi Alonso 's winner two minutes from time.

Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
Premiership – December 2004

Harry Kewell broke his 33-game scoring duck but the Aussie's joy wasn't shared by Rafa Benitez The Spaniard could only look on in anger as referee Mark Halsey awarded the hosts a free-kick on the edge of the box after former Everton player Gavin McCann went down without being touched. Chris Kirkland, who could easily have enjoyed a Bovril with the traveling supporters for most of the first half, could do nothing about the resulting strike from Nol Solano.

Aston Villa 0-0 Liverpool
Premiership –August 2003

A first point of the season for the Reds following an opening-day defeat to Chelsea. It could have been more had Harry Kewell an empty net instead of the stands on nine minutes Liverpool would go on to finish fourth, four points ahead of David O'Leary's side in sixth, in what was Gerard Houllier's last season at the club.