Steven Gerrard once again proved he is the main man for Rafa Bentiez's dream of launching a title bid with an exquisite free kick against Aston Villa to win the match for Liverpool.

The Kops got off to the best start possible with a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa thanks to an own goal from Martin Laursen and a late goal from Gerrard. Expectations were high from the team following the summer spending spree but only one new signing was named in the starting line up.

Fernando Torres started the match alongside Dirk Kyut while Ryan Babel and Andriy Voronin started on the bench. Marlon Harewood sat on the bench for Aston Villa while Nigel Reo-Coker started the match in the midfield.

It was Villa who started the match strongly, with Craig Gardner testing Reina with a stinging 30-yard volley while Carragher had to be alert to block John Carew's shot on goal. However the visitors slowly started to assume control of the match, coming close in the 17th minute with a low drive from Gerrard that was parried by keeper Stuart Taylor.

Torres had a great chance to get his first goal for the club when sprinted away from Mellberg but failed to hit the target with just Taylor to beat. Liverpool finally took the lead in the 31st minute when Kyut latched on to a rebound from a Torres shot and swung the ball into the area only for Laursen to deflect the ball into the net.

Gerrard should have had doubled the lead a few minutes later when he found himself in space in front of the goal but his curling shot went just over the bar. Villa had a great chance to equalize just before half time, but Petrov his shot straight into the hands of Reina.

Martin O'Neill brought on Gary Cahill in place of Laursen in the second half as Villa tried desperately to find an opening. Gerrard had the best chance of the opening minutes of the second half when he latched on to a square ball from Kuyt but his shot was blocked brilliantly by Gardner.

With just five minutes of normal time remaining, Villa equalized through Gareth Barry. The referee awarded a penalty to Villa after Carragher handled the ball in the area and Barry coolly converted the chance. Just when it looked that Villa had snatched a point from the game, Gerrard curled home a superb free kick from 20 yards out.

Liverpool will be playing Chelsea next in the league, following the Champions League third round qualifying game against Toulouse in midweek, while Aston Villa face Newcastle United on August 18. Watch live Premiership action here on free.football.tv.