Watkins hat-trick leads Villa's 7-2 rout of champions Liverpool

Soccer Football - Premier League - Aston Villa v Liverpool - Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain - October 4, 2020. Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins celebrates scoring their fourth goal and completing his hat-trick. Pool via REUTERS/Catherine Ivill

BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters) - A superb first-half hat-trick from Ollie Watkins helped Aston Villa to a stunning 7-2 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday to end the champions' 100% start to the season in extraordinary fashion.

Villa narrowly avoided relegation last season and finished 64 points behind Liverpool, who conceded seven goals in a match in any competition for the first time since 1963.