Villa produced a magnificent second half display and can count themselves unlucky not to have come away from Anfield with all three points.

Yossi Benayoun gave the home side a 1-0 lead at half-time when he scored at the second time of asking.

Super sub Marlon Harewood levelled matters with a superb overhead kick on 69 before Fabio Aurelio hit an own-goal to give Villa the lead two minutes later.

But former Villa striker Peter Crouch had the last laugh as he hammered home a shot at the death.

Liverpool created the first chance on two minutes as Kuyt found Benayoun at the far post but his close range effort flew over the bar.

Gerrard flashed an effort too high on six minutes after a foul from Laursen on Kuyt.

Gardner created a good chance for Agbonlahor on eight as the pacy striker rushed on to a clever pass but Reina rushed out to head clear.

Gardner robbed Aurelio on 12 and ran purposefully down the right wing but his cross was too strong from Carew and Agbonlahor.

Torres broke clear on 16 and chipped a ball to the far post but Taylor handled expertly to avert any danger.

Mellberg threaded a wonderful chipped ball to Gardner on 17 on the right who in turn chipped it into the box only for Reina to collect.

Mellberg did brilliantly to fly across the box to block a fierce Kewell effort on 18.

Benayoun opened the scoring on 19 as he fired past Taylor at the second time of asking after his first effort had been blocked.

Carew's header from a Young corner on 23 was well cleared by the Liverpool defence.

Aurelio fired wide from 12 yards on 31 after good build-up play involving Kuyt.

Carew flicked on magnificently on 44 but Agbonlahor just couldn't get to the ball as Hyypia marshalled the defence well. From the subsequent corner, Laursen headed straight at Reina.

Petrov fired well over the bar from a good position as Carragher shut him down.

Davies was lucky not to concede an own-goal after his sliced attempt at a clearance from Kewell's cross flew only just wide on 48.

Kuyt fired too high on 51 after great build-up play from Gerrard released the Dutch international down the right.

Taylor did well to come out and collect with Torres causing problems for the Villa defence on 54. Taylor was alert a minute later as he parried a Kewell drive.

Torres saw a 20 yarder fly only just too high on 55 as Liverpool looked for a second.

Harewood replaced Gardner on 66 as Agbonlahor moved to the right hand side of midfield.

Carew had Villa's best opening on 67 as his shot was well saved by Reina after great work down the left from substitute Harewood.

Arbeloa was booked on 69 after a foul on Petrov. The Bulgarian international fired in a cross which fell to Harewood and the former West Ham made no mistake with a cracking overhead kick.

Aurelio scored an own-goal on 71 as he deflected Mellberg's shot past the helpless Reina.

Babel saw a close range shot fly wide on 75 but Taylor had it covered.

Agbonlahor made a darting run down the right on 81 and had Davies in acres of space down the left but the speedy striker just couldn't find the on-loan defender.

Reina was lucky when he rushed out of his goal on 84 and saw his clearance narrowly miss the on-rushing Harewood and Carew.

Crouch levelled matters on 89 when he fired past Taylor after Laursen had failed to clear.

Liverpool: Reina, Hyypia, Arbeloa BOOKED (Skrtel, 70), Carragher, Aurelio; Kewell (Babel, 74), Gerrard, Benayoun (Crouch, 80), Mascherano BOOKED; Kuyt, Torres. Subs: Itandje, Alonso, Crouch, Babel, Skrtel.

VILLA: Taylor; Bouma, Mellberg, Laursen BOOKED, Davies; Gardner (Harewood, 66), Reo-Coker, Petrov, Young BOOKED; Agbonlahor, Carew. Subs: Sorensen, Harewood, Knight, Cahill, Osbourne.

Att: 42,950