Pictures and analysis of Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 3

Aston Villa supporters knew pretty much from the start – a Seven Nation Army couldn't hold Christian Benteke back.

The claret and blue faithful turned to the upbeat track from the American rock duo the White Stripes in search of the backing tune for a terrace chant to laud their new hero.

And, after two goals and one assist in his demolition job at Anfield, the Belgium powerhouse made Liverpool's defence look more like Dad's Army.

Villa midfielder Ashley Westwood said in the build-up to the game that Premier League defenders have become "frightened" of Benteke.

And the manner in which Liverpool seemed reluctant to engage in a battle with the 6ft 4in forward reflected that.

Benteke has bullied, battered and bulldozed his way through opponents since his £6m arrival from Genk, but on Merseyside he once again underlined he has brains to go with his considerable brawn.

The 22-year-old showed touches of finesse and vision which emphasised the varied dimensions to his overall game. No wonder he has been christened the new Didier Drogba and left the pundits drooling.

As against Norwich in the Capital One Cup, the man mountain of a striker demonstrated his ability to bring his team-mates into play and showed the vision to create chances for others as well as score goals.

In particular, the sublime backheel to set up Andreas Weimann for Villa's second goal gave an insight into Benteke's intelligence and awareness of those around him.

The inclusion of Weimann for the injured Gabby Agbonlahor was the only change from Villa's goalless draw against Stoke.

Villa had a chance in the second minute when Barry Bannan's free-kick found Benteke who saw his shot comfortably gathered by Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal.

The home side went close when Villa old-boy Stewart Downing, booed by the travelling fans throughout, put a fizzing, low cross into the penalty area which was almost turned past Brad Guzan by Eric Lichaj.

Luis Suarez dispossessed Chris Herd in a dangerous position in the 16th minute and teed up Jonjo Shelvey but Nathan Baker produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to block the Liverpool midfielder's shot.

Liverpool were well on top. Guzan was forced to make a good save from Suarez 10 minutes later when Daniel Agger's crossfield pass found Shelvey and he laid the ball into the Uruguay forward.

Despite Liverpool's early dominance it was Villa who took the lead in the 29th minute when Brett Holman fed Benteke, who saw space open up in front of him as Glen Johnson and Martin Skrtel backed off.

And Benteke, who was born in Kinshasa but who gained his football education in Belgium, took full advantage with a powerful low drive into the bottom-left corner of the net past the dive of Reina.

The goal lifted Villa, who had not scored more than once away from home in the Premier League since January, and a mistake by Johnson almost let in Weimann but he could only lift his shot over the bar.

Weimann made amends five minutes before half-time, though, as he bagged Villa's second to stun the Kop into silence.

The Austria international played the ball out to Benteke and then charged into the penalty area to get on the end of a slick backheel and blasted a low shot past Reina.

A shirt-tug on Agger by Ciaran Clark inside the penalty area, waved away by referee Neil Swarbrick, was as close Liverpool came to reigniting the contest shortly after half-time.

And Villa's travelling fans were in dreamland six minutes after the interval when Paul Lambert's side increased their lead courtesy of Benteke's second.

The impressive Holman stole possession off Liverpool substitute Joe Cole, who dawdled on the ball, and played it forward to Benteke.

The striker powered towards goal and shrugged off the attentions of Joe Allen and Skrtel before he curled a shot past Reina.

Predictably, Liverpool enjoyed the bulk of possession in the remainder of the contest but struggled to penetrate a disciplined Villa backline which seemed content to sit back in a 5-3-2 formation.

Cole struck a speculative half-volley past the post on the hour-mark while Suarez's free-kick pinged around the six-yard box five minutes later but a combination of Guzan and Baker cleared the ball.

Liverpool seemed devoid of ideas on how to break Villa down and the claret and blues almost nicked a fourth on the counter when Weimann headed wide from Bannan's cross.

Brendan Rodgers' side eventually scored late on when Jordan Henderson played in Johnson and he cut inside to curl a low shot which deflected off the head of Gerrard past Guzan.

But it was too little, too late for the home side as the travelling claret and blue army saluted Benteke with another round of his catchy ditty.

By Timothy Abraham