LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard scored twice as Liverpool moved level on points with second-placed Manchester United after a sometimes nervy 3-1 win over Aston Villa at the final match at Anfield this season.

The visitors were behind after just four minutes when Fernando Morientes placed a shot past Thomas Sorensen.

But Villa gave Liverpool a huge shock on 58 minutes when Aaron Hughes' cross reached Gareth Barry, who touched in before Gerrard took control to score twice midway through the second half, including a 30-yard screamer.

Going into the game the home side made five changes from the side that won at West Ham in midweek for the game with Gerrard, Jose Reina, Peter Crouch, Sami Hyypia and John Arne Riise all back in the starting lineup. Villa, still needing a point to avoid relegation, had Steven Davis back after a hamstring injury. William Bouma and Gabriel Agbonlahor also returned.

Liverpool started with three strikers and Riise supporting quickly on the left, as attacking a formation as Rafael Benitez could muster.

And they were soon ahead.

Xabi Alonso's long ball found Morientes in space as Gary Cahill failed to mark him closely, and the Spaniard twisted in the box to fire home his ninth of the season.

Villa responded with a header wide from Olof Mellberg following a Gareth Barry corner, won by Milan Baros.

The Czech got a rousing welcome from the Kop on his return to Anfield. But Crouch's overhead kick and a fierce Gerrard drive suggested Liverpool were in the mood for more goals.

In contrast, Villa fans displayed an "O'Leary for England" banner before the game and booed their manager on a couple of occasions when he ventured into the technical area. The fact that the Villa boss is preparing to sell anything that is not nailed down at Villa Park - particularly Baros - to fund a summer spending spree, has further upset the supporters. Their players did venture into Liverpool's half when James Milner got away on the right but his cross was headed wastefully over by Gareth Barry, Villa somehow having managed a four against two break.

The lethargy was now beginning to affect Liverpool, but they did stir themselves enough to put together a neat passing move that ended with Riise setting up Gerrard for a first-time volley just over.

Baros did not last to the second half, being replaced by Juan Pablo Angel at the break. And Angel almost got a shock equaliser on 49 minutes when Jose Reina rather lazily hacked at a clearance that struck the Villa man and bounced across the six yard box before the relieved goalkeeper reclaimed possession.

Crouch should have scored a minute later when Djibril Cisse severely embarrassed Mellberg by chasing and winning possession, starting 30 yards away from the Villa man, before firing over a cross that Crouch hit wide from six yards.

But it was Liverpool who were embarrassed on 58 minutes when they conceded a sloppy goal. Milner's 58thminute cross was allowed to sail right across the face of the goal past three defenders for Barry to tap home unmarked.

When Agbonlahor almost scored from 18 yards a minute later, the home crowd let their players know this was not good enough.

Parity lasted until the 61st minute when Alonso's near post corner was met by an unmarked Gerrard, who flicked the ball in off Sorensen's despairing left leg.

Robbie Fowler replaced Crouch before the re-start.

Liverpool then opted for a less open side, sending on Mohamed Sissoko for Cisse on 65 minutes but it made little difference as, a minute later, Gerrard took possession from Fowler to lash a stunning 30 yarder home for the third.

But even after falling 3-1 behind, Villa continued to trouble Liverpool, notably when Reina quickly changed direction to save Barry's shot after it had taken a deflection off Sissoko. Liverpool held them out to record their eight league win on the trot.