Liverpool is displaying frightening form, and should they keep themselves free of injuries, it will take a superhuman effort to stop them. You know there is something fishy going on when Villa, a team hailed as the miracle of the Premiership this season, the one team that could break the hegemony of the Big Four, gets completely demolished. Tough Villa, with consistently good performances all year round, were made a laughing stock at Anfield. The score could have been more, it could easily have been eight nil, and that's what has upset Rafael Benitez as well.

For the club's official website,  Benitez claimed he would have liked to have seen more goals.

Skipper Steven Gerrard has scored a total of 21 with his first hat trick of the season, a brace of them from the spot, while the demolition was wrapped up by further strikes from Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera.
 
The Villa rout means Liverpool now enjoy superior goal difference to both Manchester United and Chelsea, but Rafa wanted more. As if to somehow make up for all those frustrating matches against Fulham, Stoke City and Wigan.
 
"The team was doing well but it's true I am not totally happy because we could have scored more goals," said Benitez.
 
"We were playing against 10 players and had three or four more chances. It's really important to take them because you never know what's going to happen with the goal difference. Today it wasn't key but in other games it has been. I wanted more goals. It's an area we need to improve.
 
"Don't get me wrong, I am really pleased and happy. The players did a fantastic job but you can always improve."
 
The Reds turned up the pressure on Manchester United and are three points clear of Chelsea, and inspirational skipper Gerrard has re-affirmed Liverpool's title ambitions although United are still the clear favourites to claim it. United suffered a shock defeat at Fulham, even though they played superbly in the second half with nine men, so by all means it looks like this season the League will go to the wire.

The Reds presented their manager Rafael Benitez with an appropriate present for his new contract that will see him at Anfield at least until 2014.

Liverpool finished the first half three goals up, thanks to a Kuyt strike in the seventh minute, Riera in the 32nd and Gerrard scoring a penalty four minutes before the interval.

Liverpool then racked up two more crucial strikes after the break to extend their goal difference beyond United's, a factor that could become decisive in the coming weeks, with two more goals from Gerrard. For the first time this season goal difference was in their favour and the Kop end urged the Reds to score more, and the players surged forward.

This season has a long way to go yet. United are acclaimed for the manner in which they can handle pressure in the last stretch before May, and this experience will come in crucial for them. Furthermore, United still have that all-important game in hand. However, they are fighting on five fronts and the fixture congestion may have a serious impact on their performance in the end.

Liverpool, on the other hand, have managed to accumulate an incredible momentum since the demolition of Real Madrid and their game is getting better by the week.