It had been five years since Kolo Toure scored a goal, but even he got on the score sheet as Liverpool hammered hapless Aston Villa, 6-0.
The result leaves Aston Villa on 16 points at the bottom of the table, and nine points away from safety with a dozen matches remaining. Liverpool, on the other hand, moved up to eighth place while doing some nice repair work to its goal difference. It was also, according to NBC Sports, the first time that Liverpool had six goals from six different players in a Premier League match.
Liverpool scoring goals today … https://t.co/UwzYzzE6O9
— BreatheSport (@BreatheSport) February 14, 2016
Daniel Sturridge, making his return from injury, put the Reds out in front in 16th minute, and James Miler doubled the lead just nine minutes later. Villa struggled to keep the visitors at bay, trailing 2-0 at the break and conceding 62 percent of the possession.
Bullet header from Daniel Sturridge https://t.co/CgwuaVUSYf
— The_Lil_Magician (@Lil_Magician10) February 14, 2016
The home team was booed off the pitch on their way to the locker room — a sentiment that would only worsen in the final 45 minutes. Emre Can made it 3-0 in the 58th minute and, in the 62nd minute — just 37 seconds after replacing Sturridge — Divock Origi added the fourth goal. It was the fastest goal by a substitute in league play this season, and it got quite a response from the traveling supporters:
Love is in the air… pic.twitter.com/DGdYQKmKxv
— Fresh Liverpool (@Fresh_Liverpool) February 14, 2016
Defenders Nathanial Clyne and Kolo Toure knocked home the fifth and sixth goals in the 71st and 74 minutes, respectively.
#BPL#LFC fans this is amazing, never to be seen again Kolo Kolo Kolo Kolo Kolo toure!#AVFC 0 – 6 #LFChttps://t.co/vvLm0gCZ8U#SimpleAs
— BetVictor (@BetVictor) February 14, 2016
The loss for Aston Villa threatened the worst-ever top-flight home result in history, a 7-0 loss to West Brom in 1935.