Steven Gerrard scored a hat-trick as Liverpool maintained their stunning recent form by crushing Aston Villa 5-0 at Anfield on Sunday to close the gap on Premier League leaders Manchester United to just one point.
Liverpool went 3-0 ahead when Nigel Reo-Coker sent Riera tumbling in the box and Gerrard sent Friedel the wrong way with his first penalty of the game. Gerrard then added a fourth five minutes after halftime when he arrowed a touched free-kick from Alonso wide of Friedel whose afternoon was cut short after 64 minutes.
Referee Martin Atkinson showed Friedel a red card after he sent Torres sprawling and Gerrard easily beat substitute goalkeeper Brad Guzan, making his first Premier League appearance, from the spot.
Two of Gerrard's goals came from penalties, with Dirk Kuyt and Albert Riera adding the others as Liverpool, who beat Manchester United 4-1 last weekend, ensured the title race remained wide open.
Liverpool, who last won the title in 1990 and seemed out of contention a few weeks ago, moved on to 64 points from 30 matches, one point behind United, who lost 2-0 at Fulham on Saturday but who have a match in hand.
Chelsea, beaten 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, slipped back to third on 61 points from their 30 games. Arsenal, 3-1 winners at Newcastle United on Saturday are fourth on 55 points while Villa, who have now gone eight matches without a win in all competitions, remain fifth on 52 points with their Champions League hopes diminishing by the week.
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