Key stats
- Mohamed Salah has now equalled Wayne Rooney (276 for Manchester United) for the most goal involvements in the Premier League for a single club (188 goals and 88 assists for Liverpool).
- Liverpool have scored in their last 44 games in the Premier League, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition.
- Aston Villa have failed to score in five of their 10 games; only Nottingham Forest (six) have failed to score more often in the Premier League this season.
Match report
Liverpool found themselves playing under the lights on a Saturday night for the second consecutive week, only this time it was at Anfield, where Slot’s men last tasted victory back in September.
Their task at hand was no easy one, however, with the visitors unbeaten in six league games (W4, D2), including a superb win against Manchester City last week.
The home crowd were very nearly silenced inside five minutes when Morgan Rogers started and almost finished a brilliant team move, cannoning a shot off the post after linking up with Ollie Watkins. Both sides looked dangerous in attack, with chances flowing as a result.
Dominik Szoboszlai sent a powerful effort narrowly wide from distance before Andrew Robertson’s shot deflected into Emiliano Martínez’s grasp, while Villa went up the other end and twice called Giorgi Mamardashvili into action.
Matty Cash’s shot from the edge of the box flicked off Virgil van Dijk and needed to be palmed onto the crossbar by the Georgian, before Rogers was denied by the Reds’ stand-in stopper.
Liverpool upped the ante in the final moments of the first half and thought they’d found the opener on 43 minutes, but Hugo Ekitike’s powerful header was chalked off for offside.
But the Anfield crowd were cheering again in stoppage time when a high press prompted Martínez to give the ball away to Mohamed Salah, and the Egyptian made no mistake, firing home with his weaker foot to become just the third Liverpool player to score 250 goals for the club.
Unai Emery’s men looked dangerous in the early moments of the second half, with Evann Guessand their most threatening outlet.
Liverpool did not crumble under pressure, however, and instead, the hosts managed to double their lead just before the hour mark.
Again, a high press forced a turnover, allowing Alexis Mac Allister to pick out Ryan Gravenberch, whose deflected effort sailed past Martinez, much to the relief of Slot and the home fans.
The Villans threw everything forward in an attempt to turn the game around as Ross Barkley spurned a glorious opportunity after being picked out in the box by Jadon Sancho, but the former Everton man skied his effort from close range.
Liverpool fought off any potential comeback and claimed victory, which helps them avoid losing five consecutive league matches for the first time since September 1953, while Villa were beaten in the PL for the first time since August.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Ryan Gravenberch (Liverpool)
