Villarreal look set to reach the Premier League International Cup quarter-finals after overcoming Liverpool 7-0 to move six points clear at the top of Group E.
The Reds handed Under-23 debuts to Ki-Jana Hoever, Rhys Williams and Luis Longstaff in a much-changed line-up as the Spanish visitors secured an impressive victory at the Kirkby Academy.
Mario Gonzalez's double either side of a Sergio Lozano strike put the 2015/16 champions 3-0 up inside 15 minutes before Nikola Vujnovic made the score 4-0 at half-time.
Vujnovic struck again after a goal from Adrian Riera before Mukwelle Akale wrapped up the comprehensive win in stoppage-time.
Villarreal have seven points after playing all three group matches, while Group E opponents Swansea City, Hertha Berlin and Liverpool all have two matches remaining.
Second-placed Swansea are six points adrift, meaning Villarreal are all but guaranteed to progress to the last eight as one of the six group winners or the two best runners-up.
See: Liverpool report
