Again the Claret and Blue failed to win on their own turf against the Reds and the lack of goals in the fixture proved all important once more.
Gareth Barry inevitably took centre stage, but it was in the centre of the pitch where the home side struggled against their illustrious opponents.
Too often over the course of last ten years, during which Villa have failed to win at Villa Park against the men from Anfield, the Midlanders have tried to play it straight.
Against Liverpool, you must play with a crooked bat. Unfortunately, this summer has been all too much about that tool.
But on the pitch, Villa played too central and considering the club now possess two of England's most promising wingers, that was a little surprising.
Stalwart
With James Milner left on the bench after signing from Newcastle, the emphasis was on Ashley Young to attack the full backs.
And with Nigel Reo-Coker on the right inevitably most things went down the opposite flank.
Not that it stopped Reo-Coker from impressing. In fact, aside from man mountain Martin Laursen, the former West Ham man was the stand out performer.
Time after time Jame Carragher proves to be a rock at the back for the men from Merseyside, so playing around the Scouse stalwart is essential.
Villa simply failed to do so!
The game was devoid of chances and the only opportunity of note for Villa in the first half fell to John Carew.
Who provided it? Amazingly enough it was Young.
But Carew could only steer his low shot against the legs of Pepe Reina.
You somehow felt Villa might regret that profligacy.
In the end it didn't prove costly, but Robbie Keane did miss hit a shot when one on one, Reo-Coker did well to put him off, and Brad Friedel was forced to tip over a tricky centre.
Guarding
Fernando Torres was injured in the first half and Liverpool never showed a true cutting edge. Neither, though, did Villa.
Gareth Barry, whose name begs a mention, was unable to enforce his usual presence on the game.
The midfielder was surrounded by grey shirts for the majority of the game and at times Liverpool gave the impression of a pride guarding their young.
Ironically, it was Xabi Alonso, the man who Barry would have replaced at Anfield, who shone for Benitez' men.
The Spaniard splayed the ball around the park with ease and everything went through him for the visitors.
But, this game wasn't about Barry, Alonso or even Benitez it was about Villa and their progression.
What they achieved was a point more than last season and the performance was much improved, but the elusive win remained evasive.