That, though, did not legislate for a truly shocking first-half performance from Benitez’s men for which their efforts after the break could not atone.

Injuries couldn’t be used as an excuse. With Martin Skrtel recovered from the clash of heads with Jamie Carragher sustained at White Hart Lane the previous week, Liverpool were at full strength, Benayoun retaining his place on the left flank after an impressive show against Stoke City last Wednesday.

And the Israeli almost capitalised on hesitancy from Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel in the opening moment as Liverpool aimed for another profitable start.

A ball chipped forward by Torres caught Friedel in two minds, allowing Benayoun to sprint in and head narrowly wide ahead of the American.

Benayoun was then involved again as Villa had a remarkable escape in the ninth minute, when Liverpool spurned at least three chances to score in the same attack.

Some poor defending by the visitors gave Torres the chance for a shoot that was blocked by Davies. The ball span forward and, after Benayoun failed to connect inside the six-yard box, Gerrard struck the prone Friedel on the legs.

Gerrard curled an effort narrowly over, but Liverpool struggled to find any rhythm and make inroads against a tightly packed Villa defence.

They didn’t help themselves with some chronically poor distribution, misplaced passes time and again finding the opposition.

So it was perhaps inevitable that Villa’s opening goal 11 minutes from the interval should be an entirely self-inflicted wound.

Lucas needlessly felled Petrov 30 yards out, and then compounded his error by inadvertently heading the ball into his own net after James Milner’s free-kick deflected through the Liverpool wall.

Matters got worse on the stroke of half-time. Steve Sidwell hit a shot that referee Atkinson adjudged to have struck Skrtel and gone behind for a corner.

Pepe Reina was so furious at the decision he was booked for dissent, and was then left even more angry when slack marking by Torres and Jamie Carragher at the near post allowed Davies to glance home Sidwell’s inswinging delivery from the right.

Liverpool at least offered more threat after the break. Friedel parried clear Gerrard’s angled drive and then was forced to tip over a dipping Kuyt header.

The Dutchman came even closer in the 57th minute when his header hit the post after Carragher hooked the ball across goal, and Kuyt then ruffled the side-netting while attempting to reach Johnson’s deep cross.

Torres had a penalty claim waved away by Atkinson after tussling with Davies in the area before Friedel beat out another Gerrard drive.

Benitez threw on Andriy Voronin, and the Ukrainian made an instant impact by helping Liverpool back into the game on 72 minutes, feeding Emiliano Insua to cross for Torres to slot home.

But the game was up three minutes later when Gerrard needlessly upended Nigel Reo-Coker inside the area and Young converted from the spot.

Kuyt was then denied a penalty despite being bundled over by Habib Beye and then slid the ball across goal from substitute Ryan Babel’s left-wing cross.

Friedel also saved from Torres and Glen Johnson, but this was not Liverpool ’s night. And, it seems, it’s unlikely to be their season either.