Aston Villa have beaten Liverpool to a 7-2 defeat on Sunday night at Villa Park.

The Reds have become the first reigning English top-flight champions to ship seven goals in a league match since Arsenal against Sunderland in September 1953.

The win took Dean Smith’s side to second, keeping their perfect record intact behind Everton by three points with an upstanding match.

Alisson Becker was missing from Liverpool's starting line-up for the clash with Aston Villa due to a shoulder injury as Adrian took his place.

Diogo Jota made his first league start for the club, replacing Sadio Mane, who the club announced on Friday had tested positive for coronavirus.

Ross Barkley was handed his Villa bow following his arrival on loan from Chelsea and Conor Hourihane was dropped to the bench.

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The Villans led after only four minutes when Liverpool goalkeeper Adrian conceded possession to Jack Grealish, who teed up Watkins for a simple finish.

Aston Villa's lead was doubled when Watkins cut in and slammed a shot into the top corner on 22 minutes.

Mohamed Salah's smart shot reduced the deficit on 33 minutes but two minutes later, John McGinn's deflected effort restored Villa's two-goal cushion.

Watkins' hat-trick header made the score 4-1 and 10 minutes after half-time, Ross Barkley added a fifth.

Salah pulled another goal back on the hour but Grealish's double on 66 and 75 minutes completed the comprehensive victory.