Aston Villa vs. Liverpool: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Game

Liverpool closed the gap on the Premier League's top four and heaped yet more misery on rock-bottom Aston Villa on Sunday courtesy of a comprehensive 6-0 victory at Villa Park.

Daniel Sturridge opened the scoring in his first top-flight start since October before James Milner gave the Reds some breathing space 20 minutes before half-time.

Goals after the break from Emre Can, Divock Origi, Nathaniel Clyne and Kolo Toure completed the rout, as Jurgen Klopp's men moved up to eighth in the table and ended their barren run of five games without a win in all competitions.

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Aston Villa came into Sunday's clash off the back of a confidence-inspiring 2-0 victory over Norwich City last weekend, but they were on the back foot from the off against the Reds.

Sturridge's return gave Liverpool an extra dimension going forward, and it wasn't long before the Englishman found himself on the scoresheet.

With just 16 minutes on the clock, Philippe Coutinho played in a pinpoint cross for Sturridge, who had the simple task of nodding past Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn from six yards out.

It was nothing more than the Reds deserved, and Sturridge continued his impeccable run against Villa, per Sky Sports Statto:

Nine minutes later, Liverpool doubled their lead through Milner. Jores Okore brought down Coutinho on the left flank, and Milner's resulting free-kick went through a crowd of players and into the net.

You'd think that would have been enough to wake Remi Garde's side from their Sunday slumber, but the Reds continued to dominate and could easily have gone in at half-time four or five goals to the good.

As it was, Garde called his players in, knowing a fast start to the second period would bring them back into the match.

They didn't quite get the memo, however.

Just short of the hour mark, Roberto Firmino—who seemed to be enjoying a new-found sense of freedom behind Sturridge—laid the ball off to Can 25 yards from goal, and he slammed the ball into the corner.

The German's strike ended any chance of the hosts picking up points, but Liverpool weren't done there and could even afford to take off Sturridge with half an hour still to play.

The Englishman was replaced by Origi, who scored with his first touch.

Coutinho played yet another beautiful pass in behind the Villa defence to leave Origi one-on-one with Bunn, and Origi found the back of the net with consummate ease.

That was enough for the many home fans who started to filter out. Broadcaster Ian Abrahams noted relegation is looming for Garde's side:

It then got a little comical, as nearly every Liverpool player got in on the act. Right-back Clyne poked the ball home from close range two minutes after Origi's strike, and Toure nodded home Jordan Henderson's corner with 71 minutes on the clock.

British sprinter Adam Gemili reflected on just how bleak it looked for the hosts:

Villa managed to prevent Liverpool from adding a seventh, and they could even have notched a consolation through substitute Scott Sinclair.

The front man curled a beautiful effort toward goal that had Simon Mignolet scrambling, but it just clipped the outside of the post and went out for a goal-kick.

That was enough to drain the optimism from Aston Villa fan and Bleacher Report writer Sam Tighe:

Villa are now eight points adrift of safety heading into the winter of the 2015/16 campaign, and if they continue to perform the way they did on Sunday, the Championship beckons.

Liverpool, meanwhile, will take plenty of encouragement from a professional performance in which their stars did what they do best.

Coutinho and Firmino pulled the strings throughout, while Sturridge proved just how lethal he can be in front of goal.

Klopp and Co. will take on Manchester City in the Capital One Cup final on Feb. 28, when they'll be looking to produce another ruthless display.

Reaction

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Garde reflected on a woeful day at the office, saying the 6-0 drubbing was his worst defeat as a manager, via Tony Barrett of the Times:

Klopp, meanwhile, said he was happy to have two of his star men firing on all cylinders and labelled the victory as good for the soul, per BBC Sport:

"

It makes a difference having both Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge on the pitch. You can only play them when they are fit and available.

We are not in the most easy moment at Liverpool. That is not pessimistic, that is the truth.

It is hard work, and you need to be ready for it. We want to change things with work, and this was good for the soul. 

"