Liverpool created plenty of early chances but Yossi Benayoun, Javier Mascherano and Steven Gerrard all saw their shots fly well wide of Stuart Taylor's post.
The early pressure paid off after 20 minutes however when Villa could only clear a corner as far as Dirk Kuyt. The Dutchman played in Benayoun who saw his first shot saved before poking in the rebound.
Kuyt then sent a pass right across the face of goal but no-one was on hand to tap the ball home. Fabio Aurelio then had a good chance from 20 yards but shot wide.
The second half was more of the same. Gerrard played in Kuyt but the striker is clearly a man out of form and with the option of cutting the ball back, sending it across the six yard box or beating the keeper at his far post he instead decided to hammer the ball miles over the bar.
Fernando Torres and Harry Kewell both had shots saved before Alvaro Arbeloa shot just over the bar. The failure to score a second goal while bossing the game was to be costly.
Villa boss Martin O'Neill brought on Marlon Harewood and he had an immediate impact as Villa scored twice in three minutes. With Liverpool needing a goal Rafael Benitez turned to Peter Crouch and the England striker delivered with a fine finish from 18 yards out. Now if we can just do something to turn these draws into wins...