Liverpool sink at home to Villa

Liverpool also had to contend with a clear signal that they may once again fall short of the standards needed to match Manchester United over a Premiership campaign.

Houllier bemoaned the debilitating effect of international exertions on his celebrated England players and inadvertently highlighted the gap in class that still exists between the two squads.

While Liverpool were vulnerable at the back, pedestrian in midfield and, with Michael Owen on the bench, punchless up front, United were able to name David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs among their substitutes and still turn on an exhibition against Everton.

The shrug of the shoulders that accompanied an admission-of Liverpool?s inadequacies may have been even more exaggerated had Houllier heard Villa skipper Paul Merson?s caustic observations.

He said: ?It was a major surprise to me that Owen did not start. He was our big fear. He would not have been left out of our starting line-up. When you are a centre forward and you are flying like he is, you want to play every week. Fatigue doesn?t enter the equation.

?It?s not looking good for Liverpool. They have had two defeats already and can?t afford to lose too many more.?

It has long been apparent that Liverpool often lack the guile to undo sides intent on survival at Anfield. With Dietmar Hamann showing no incisiveness again and Gerrard stuck out on the right, a Villa rearguard reinforced by Peter Schmeichel was seldom put to the test.

Indeed, the defensive fallibility came from Liverpool as their back four committed enough elementary errors to ruin Jerzy Dudek?s debut.

For Villa, there was only optimism and elation at such a resounding triumph. As Schmeichel said: ?We showed tremendous character and sent a message to the rest of the Premiership that we can hold our own with the best.?