Aston Villa (2) 2 Liverpool (0) 0
Yorke 25, 36.
Even so, they may need more heroics at Norwich next Sunday to be absolutely certain of staying in the Premiership. Depending, to some extent, on the results of the midweek games involving Coventry, West Ham and Crystal Palace, Villa are likely to be among a gaggle of clubs struggling on a final, nerve-wracking day of the season to avoid joining Ipswich, Leicester and Norwich in the Endsleigh League next season.
But this result gives Villa as good a chance as any of skirting the one remaining relegation place. Especially as their goal difference is superior to most of their fellow strugglers' and Norwich are unlikely to offer stiff resistance at Carrow Road now that they are down.
"Basically, we've got to do the same again," said Little afterwards. "A couple of things could happen in midweek that could make the game at Norwich a relaxation for us, but the way the season has gone so far, I doubt very much whether that will be the case."
Talking of resistance that is less than stiff, Liverpool were little short of a disgrace yesterday. "A win against Liverpool would be the biggest of my career," Little had said before the game, but he was obviously thinking of the real Liverpool and not the pale imitation that wilted badly in the baking heat of Villa Park yesterday.
"This was our worst performance since the Coca-Cola Cup final," he admitted. "It was a deckchair day for us, and not acceptable. The biggest losers were our fans. I'm not saying we didn't turn up, but we didn't entertain. The most movement we had all day was when the streaker came on at the end."
By the time that gentlemen bared all in the closing minutes, the teams had long settled for the 2-0 scoreline at half time. Villa's goals had been a fine pair of headers by Dwight Yorke, their Trinidadian striker, who had not scored for 10 games.
Little put the win down to the changed, more committed attitude he has encouraged among his players since they lost 4-0 at home to Arsenal on Easter Monday. "If ever there was a kick up the backside, that was it," said the Villa manager. "We sat down and talked and decided that unless we pulled our fingers out, we were going to go down."
For 25 minutes, however, Villa's nervousness was a more relevant factor than their renewed determination. Not until Ugo Ehiogu, one of the markers in Villa's three-man defensive system, decided to support his attack did the home side achieve any kind of penetration.
The corner was taken on the right by Steve Staunton and he swung it into the far post with his left foot. There, Yorke found himself with a free downward header into the net as James struggled to get past Ehiogu and to the corner kick.
As the packed ground exploded into a paroxysm of delight and relief, the Liverpool players complained bitterly that the goal should not have been allowed to stand because Ehiogu had impeded James. Referee Robbie Hart was not having any of it, though, even though the Liverpool protest continued while Ian Rush was receiving treatment following a tackle by Townsend that earned the Villa man a yellow card.
Liverpool could complain about nothing but their own ineptitude and lassitude when Villa increased their lead after 36 minutes. Dean Saunders was allowed all the time in the world on the right to deliver the ball perfectly to the near post for Yorke to dive in front of James and head his second goal in nine minutes.
There might have been others for Villa before half time. Another simple one-two, between Saunders and Staunton, meant James had to get his body in the way to stop Staunton thumping in a left-footer at the near post.
Saunders was enjoying himself against his former club and a quick break by him should have led to a goal. He misjudged his pass to Ian Taylor, however, and then Mark Walters got back to make a saving tackle as Gary Charles shaped to put away Saunders' low centre.
McManaman very nearly beat Bosnich in the closing minutes of the first half. After bemusing the Villa defence with one of his mazy runs, the Liverpool player aimed a curling shot for the top corner, only to see Bosnich beat it away to safety.
That was just about that. The second half was almost a complete non-event, devoid of excitement, entertainment and real scoring chances at either end. Liverpool did not disturb Bosnich at all, and Villa were only marginally more active at the other end. Given the high level of his overall performance, though, it would have been nice if Yorke had completed his hat-trick, instead of shooting over the bar, when he bamboozled the Liverpool defence again five minutes before the end.
Aston Villa: Bosnich, Charles, Wright, Teale, McGrath, Ehiogu, Staunton (Fenton 75), Taylor, Townsend, Saunders, Yorke. Subs Not Used: Johnson, Spink. Booked: Townsend.
Liverpool: James, Scales, Harkness, Thomas, Wright, Redknapp, McManaman, Fowler, Rush (Clough 64), Barnes, Walters (Matteo 75). Subs Not Used: Warner.
Att: 40,154
Ref: R Hart (Darlington).