The second of Sky’s – because, of course, it is Sky’s – Christmas treble as Liverpool take on Aston Villa.

The teams:

Liverpool Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Enrique , Shelvey, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Bellamy, Suarez

Aston Villa Guzan; Hutton, Dunne, Collins, Warnock; Albrighton, Petrov, Herd, N’Zogbia; Heskey, Delfouneso

That’s some way to start a game. Horrific challenge from Adam on Delfouneso.

Another knock on from the men in black means it’s a Munster scrum. Scarlets have left a lot behind them already today.

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-1 Liverpool

Craig Bellamy knocks in the rebound after Suarez manufactures the opening. Harsh on Villa who had a fine start.

GOAL! Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool

Clinical from Liverpool. A Bellamy corner is headed in emphatically by Skrtel. They’re cruising now.

Sorry about that. A few technical difficulties there, in which team Liverpool have rendered this a dead rubber. Villa started well but have neither the backline nor attack to make anything concrete of it, and Liverpool duly punish them. Dalglish’s side are cruising now.

N’Zogbia hits the side netting after a decent Villa break. Need to get something soon to make a game of this though.

Yellow card for Charlie Adam, who’s put himself about in this game, a tackle on Heskey there

A striking lookalike that’s just occurred to us: Bellamy and Warwick Davis.

This is not the dynamic game Sky promised. Villa are gamely trying but don’t have the quality to make any dent on Liverpool’s commanding two-goal lead.

This is only the second time in eight league games that Liverpool have scored more than once.

HALF-TIME: Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool

This is a slow game not filled with Christmas cheer. Liverpool happy to protect their lead with possession, Villa not enough quality to pierce it.

Second half of this dredgery about to start. Come on Villa, at least give us the semblance of a contest.

And we’re off. The ball immediately goes out for a throw.

Almost 3-0 Liverpool there as Agger heads wide from Bellamy’s cross.

Suarez cuts the Villa defence apart and then smashes the underside of the bar. What a run.

Here’s a random stat that illustrates how much unappealing this game is: these two teams – along with Milan-Inter, Feyenoord-Ajax and Liverpool-Forest – have served up one of only four times in which the European Cup has been won by two different clubs from the same country in successive years.

Downing drives an effort over the bar. Villa just aren’t at the races.

Oh Suarez! That would have been beautiful. Tries to chip Guzan with a chip reminiscent of Cantona against Sunderland in 1996-97… but rather than go in, it bounces off the post and away. So unlucky!

It’s 0-0 between Tottenham and Sunderland by the way.

Jonjo ‘The Hills Have Eyes’ Shelvey goes close.

Nothing is happening.

The Villa fans sing “what a waste of money” at Downing after he does something poor. Liverpool respond with “going down”.

Yes, commenting on the chants. The liveblogger’s equivalent of the Mexican Wave.

Andy Carroll is on.

Glen Johnson goes on a fine run and then ruins by letting the ball potter out of play.

Jamie Carragher about to come on for Shelvey. Did a decent job today, the bald youngster.

Liverpool can be pleased though. It’s the sort of performance you could call “professional”. Suarez’s excitement aside, they all did their job with no frills. Cleansheet and two goals.

Bellamy has been good too, to be fair. He’s proven a great signing.

FULL-TIME: Aston Villa 0-2 Liverpool

That was awful to watch but Liverpool can be very happy with the performance and points.First back-to-back wins in three months.