This month just keeps getting better and better. After the momentuous wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United, the game against Aston Villa was filled with potential problems. Not only has this season been strewn with great wins followed by lacklustre displays, the previous day's defeat by Manchester United at Fulham (thanks, Danny boy) put the pressure on Liverpool.

Any fears of another slip up, however, were ill-placed with another emphatic win that further reduces the gap at the top and at the same time places Liverpool as the best side as far as goal differences are concerned. What's more they did so with a great display of football against a very good side. Liverpool's passing and running into space was impeccable and Benitez is right when he says that more goals could have been scored.

Yet, for all the plus points to come out of this game, the best moment came in the 81st minute when, after a misplaced pass, Albert Riera punched the turf in frustration. That reaction at a point where the game was wrapped up showed how much this set of players cares about the club and the results.

The only negative aspect of this game was the (unnecessary) sending off of Brad Friedel which means that he will miss out against Manchester United. One must also wonder what went through Gareth Barry's mind now that Villa seem to be slipping out of the running for the Champions League. A summer move to Anfield still looks very much like a possibility (or a probability, if you believe the Sunday papers) but this could turn out to be another wasted season for him. It was also interesting to see Emile Heskey back in action, given that rumour was that he was close to moving to Liverpool. I like Heskey but, going by today's game, we can do better than him

Good Game
It was another fantastic afternoon for Pepe Reina who broke Ray Clemences record for achieving one hundred clean sheets with class. After two breath-taking saves from John Carew, he set up a goal with an accurate kick up the pitch: the second time he's done so within a week. At the back, there were classy displays from each one of the back four. Alvaro Arbeloa should have gotten a goal from that mistake off Brad Friedel while Fabio Aurelio routinely picke out the best moments to push forward. In the centre Jamie Carragher and Martin Skrtel were initially troubled by John Carew but eventually got to grips with him.

In the centre of midfield, Javier Mascherano's drive was incessant - even in the final few minutes with the game wrapped up - as he harried every Villa player with the ball. Perhaps spurred on by the comparison with Barry, Xabi Alonso was excellent and his passing picked the Villa defence to pieces. Dirk Kuyt scored a great opening goal and then dove-tailed nicely with Arbeloa, dropping back to cover when the right back opted to move forward.

For the past few games, Albert Riera has been quite anonymous (verging on the downright bad) but against Villa he was back to his old self. Nigel Reo-Coker must be dreading the possibility of featuring once more at rigth back as the Spanish winger went past him with ease. Scorer of a fantastic goal, Riera was involved in the first and third ones and, for that alone, edges Reina as the game's best player.

This choice might seem strange seeing that Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick and played another good game. Yet, such are the high standards that Gerrard has set himself that it is hard to say that this was one of his best games. Same goes for Fernando Torres who tried hard without ever really setting the game alight.

Bad Game
How can one possible claim that someone had a bad game during such a performance.

Substitutes
The return of Daniel Agger was a positive one especially if you take in the reminder that he gave of his abilities when moving forward with the ball. Now sign the contract, lad. Lucas Leiva was given another cameo appearance but didn't really do anything of particular note. David N'Gog, the final substitution, worked hard to create something for himself but, sadly for him, he came on at a point where the rest of the team was already satisfied by the result.