The Reds were looking to continue a fantastic run as they welcomed Villa to Anfield. Rafa Benitez's men had won nine consecutive fixtures before this game and were looking to emulate Liverpool's 1990 League winners' feat of a perfect 10.
Benitez decided to ring the changes with Gerrard returning for the suspended Luis Garcia and Jose Reina restored in goal after Jerzy Dudek's rare appearance at West Ham.
Dietmar Hamann, Momo Sissoko, Stephen Warnock and Robbie Fowler also made way with Sami Hyypia, John Arne Riise, Xabi Alonso and Peter Crouch returning.
A nervous David O'Leary came looking for the point that would guarantee his side's safety after a disastrous season that the Irishman would rather forget. The midweek defeat by Manchester City left his team still not mathematically safe from the drop.
Steven Davis returned after injury but there was no place in the team for Juan Pablo Angel, Kevin Phillips and Jlloyd Samuel. Young striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and Netherlands international Wilfred Bouma returned to first-team action.
Liverpool opened the scoring in the fourth minute after a defence-splitting pass from Alonso beat Gary Cahill and Davis, leaving Fernando Morientes with just goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen to beat.
The striker neatly switched the ball from his right foot to his left before powering home a shot.
The Reds looked good for the win from then on as a dejected Villa reeled from the early setback.
James Milner looked lively out wide, but too many misplaced passes and a lack of communication had O'Leary pulling his hair out on the touchline.
Liverpool, on the other hand, looked compact and determined with both Crouch and Gerrard going close early on.
A 27th-minute effort saw Crouch turn playmaker after a Villa corner and hit a great ball upfield for Gerrard to chase, but Sorensen scurried 20 yards from his area to clear.
Milner evaded both Riise and Djimi Traore on a fantastic run just after the half-hour. The youngster found himself with acres of time and space inside Reina's area, but instead of shooting opted to place a poor pass which evaded everyone.
A minute later Traore found himself upfield and played a threatening pass across Sorensen's goal, but Cahill cleared the danger.
Former Red Milan Baros was replaced by Angel at the break and Villa started the second half brightly.
The substitute almost equalised when he threw his body in the way of Reina's miscued clearance, but luckily for the home goalkeeper the rebound bobbled wide.
Crouch should have done better after running onto a great cross from Djibril Cisse but couldn't direct his shot, before Morientes forced a smart low save from Sorensen.
Gareth Barry pulled Villa level after 58 minutes, with Aaron Hughes providing an excellent cross from the right which Barry couldn't fail to miss.
A minute later Villa should have been ahead, but Agbonlahor pulled his shot wide when well placed to score.
A fantastic Gerrard goal just after the hour restored Liverpool's lead. The England midfielder arrived late at the near post to slot home from Alonso's low corner.
Benitez reacted by introducing Fowler and Sissoko for Cisse and Crouch.
Gerrard then hit a 30-yard rocket to put Liverpool 3-1 up after Morientes teed him up in the 66th minute.
The captain's delight was obvious as he slid on his back towards the corner flag to lap up the rapturous applause.
Villa went close to pulling one back almost immediately when Barry's shot took a wicked deflection off Sissoko, but Reina reacted sharply to get down and parry.
Liverpool right-back Jan Kromkamp attempted to emulate Gerrard's bullet but his shot sailed over the bar, before Fowler miscued when played in by Gerrard.
Benitez must have been delighted to have seen his side boost their bid to finish second in some style, but for O'Leary the end of the season can't come quickly enough.