Sometimes the most outrageous superlatives don't sum up a performance - this was one of those occasions.
Villa were simply sensational as they produced a performance of class and no little composure to see off the mighty Liverpool in their own backyard.
There were plenty of heroes in the claret and blue ranks but you couldn't look past Brad Friedel, who was masterful between the sticks.
Villa took the lead just after the half hour mark, with home midfielder Lucas deflecting past Pepe Reina, under pressure from James Milner.
Martin O'Neill's men doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time - Curtis Davies bulleting home a header from close-range.
Villa deserved it too, as they defended and attacked as a team throughout the game.
Liverpool came roaring back after the break as they searched for a lifeline.
Villa survived the early onslaught but Fernando Torres appeared to have set up a grandstand finish with a clinical finish from close-range with 15 minutes remaining.
But that flicker of hope was snuffed out three minutes later when Nigel Reo-Coker - brilliant in the central ground - earned a penalty for the away side after being hacked down in the box by Steven Gerrard.
Ashley Young sent the Liverpool goalkeeper the wrong way to give Villa that two-goal cushion - an advantage they managed to maintain at the final whistle.
Watch our memory match special highlights on AVTV now.
