Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa fell to defeat at the hands of Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday evening, losing 2-0 at Anfield. 

Despite showing signs of promise and attacking intent throughout, Villa were twice caught on the break, with a goal in each half from Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah ensuring the hosts stretched their lead at the top of the table to five points. 

Unai Emery made four changes to his starting 11 from the midweek Champions League defeat at Club Brugge, with Jacob Ramsey, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne and Amadou Onana all reinstated. 

It was the hosts who started the brighter before an electric atmosphere under the lights at Anfield. Villa were made to weather an early storm from Arne Slot’s side, who were cheered on by a home crowd buoyed by news of Manchester City’s defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion. 

But Villa slowly grew into the game, creating openings of their own. Digne’s forward run cleared space for the lively Ramsey to cut inside and see his shot blocked, before Youri Tielemans’ cross was headed over by Leon Bailey moments later. 

But just as Emery’s men had looked to be gaining a foothold, Liverpool struck on the counter, breaking the deadlock just before the midway point of the first half. Virgil van Dijk showed quick thinking to clear a Villa corner and release Salah, who Bailey brought down when in the clear, but Núñez was alive to pick up the pieces, round Emi Martínez and finish into the empty net. 

And just after the half-hour mark, the Uruguayan forward had a golden opportunity to double the Reds’ lead in similar circumstances. A Villa corner was swiftly sent Salah’s way. The Egyptian picked out Núñez’s run perfectly, though the frontman could not add to his tally when one on one with Martínez, blazing over in front of The Kop. 

Villa remained in the game as the break approached, carrying a threat of their own going forward. Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher had to be alert twice in as many minutes to superbly deny headers from Amadou Onana and then Diego Carlos, both from Digne corners from the right-hand side. 

The Villans began the second period on the front foot. Within a minute of the restart, Morgan Rogers had found himself with space to pick a shot inside the Liverpool area, but he sent his effort the wrong side of the far post. 

Núñez’s header was flashed narrowly wide of the post for the hosts, before substitute Cody Gakpo hammered a long-range effort over as Slot’s men looked for the all-important second goal. 

Emery introduced all of Jhon Durán, Jaden Philogene, Ian Maatsen and Boubacar Kamara from the bench in the second period, as Villa remained in the hunt for an equaliser. 

But despite the best efforts of the visiting side, the Reds doubled their lead and made sure of the points in the closing stages, as Villa were again caught on the break. Salah robbed Diego Carlos of possession on the halfway line, surged towards goal and made no mistake against Martínez when one on one, to ensure the Lions left Liverpool empty-handed.