Liverpool prolonged their lead on the prime of the Premier League as they claimed a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield.
The Reds might have ran away with it after Darwin Nunez opened the scoring early within the first half, however Villa did all the pieces they may to make life exhausting for his or her hosts from then on.
Nevertheless, Villa’s missed possibilities had been in the end punished late on when Mohamed Salah raced away to clinch the three factors and guarantee Manchester Metropolis’s defeat to Brighton earlier within the day didn’t go to waste.
How the sport unfolded
Liverpool made the stronger begin of the 2 groups when it comes to dominating possession, however it was Villa who had essentially the most promising moments, Jacob Ramsey seeing a shot desperately blocked earlier than Leon Bailey headed over a Youri Tielemans cross early doorways.
Nevertheless, it was a second of stress from the guests that in the end led to them conceding the opener, with Liverpool breaking away after defending a nook and placing in Nunez to around the goalkeeper earlier than ending.
If that was an unusually composed end from the Uruguayan, then he was again to himself shortly after, blasting over an analogous one-on-one alternative after being performed in by Salah.
That gave Villa encouragement, and so they had been desperately unfortunate to not rating from back-to-back nook conditions, Amadou Onana forcing a pointy save from Caoimhin Kelleher with a header earlier than Diego Carlos did the identical.
Having arguably edged the primary half, Villa began the second by making a golden alternative, Morgan Rogers gathering a second ball earlier than driving into the field and taking pictures broad when he may need completed higher.
Liverpool responded, with Nunez heading an Andy Robertson cross simply broad, however they must wait till there have been 20 minutes remaining for his or her subsequent probability, which noticed Cody Gakpo drive broad after chopping in off the left.
That was as a result of the sport had largely descended right into a bodily battle with neither facet on prime, a state of play that continued into the ultimate levels.
However Liverpool lastly managed to wrap the factors up with 5 minutes remaining, Salah breaking free on the break and benefiting from a fortuitous bounce of the ball earlier than ending coolly.
GK: Caoimhin Kelleher – 8/10 – It might have been a unique day for Liverpool had been it not for 2 unimaginable reflex saves within the first half.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6/10 – Compelled off early with an obvious hamstring damage.
CB: Ibrahima Konate – 8/10 – A rock on the again for Liverpool, bullying Ollie Watkins out of the sport to assist safe a deserved clear sheet.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – 7/10 – Not fairly as busy as his centre-half companion however did not put a foot improper and performed a key position within the opener.
LB: Andy Robertson – 7/10 – Has been criticised for his type of late however regarded to have benefited from a relaxation as he roared up and down the left wing.
DM: Ryan Gravenberch – 7/10 – Liverpool’s most spectacular midfielder, hoovering up unfastened balls and displaying off his wonderful dribbling abilities to work house.
DM: Alexis Mac Allister – 6/10 – Didn’t win sufficient 50/50s however stored at it and reduce out the unfastened passes that plagued his first half.
AM: Curtis Jones – 6/10 – Received his battles and barely gave possession away, taking part in his half in an engrossing midfield battle.
RW: Mohamed Salah – 8/10 – Arrange the opener, scored the second – only a typical evening’s work for Liverpool’s greatest ahead.
CF: Darwin Nunez – 7/10 – Took his purpose effectively and was a relentless menace however maybe loses a mark for lacking a golden alternative to make it 2-0.
LW: Luis Diaz – 6/10 – Didn’t have an excessive amount of of an affect till he was moved to a central place late on.
Substitutes
SUB: Conor Bradley (25 for Alexander-Arnold) – 6/10 – Did effectively instead of his injured teammate.
SUB: Cody Gakpo (65 for Nunez) – 6/10
SUB: Dominik Szoboszlai (65 for Jones) – 6/10
SUB: Wataru Endo (85 for Mac Allister) – N/A
Subs not used: Vitezslav Jaros, Joe Gomez, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton.
Supervisor
Arne Slot – 7/10 – The tactical battle in all probability ended honours even however it’s a credit score to the Dutchman that his facet maintain profitable.
GK: Emiliano Martinez – 6/10 – Will presumably be disenchanted with the 2 objectives, which appeared to enter elements of the web the place he would normally make stops.
RB: Ezri Konsa – 7/10 – Liverpool by no means regarded massively threatening down his facet and, whereas he wasn’t a menace in possession, he was secure.
CB: Diego Carlos – 6/10 – Received loads of battles and was unfortunate to not rating with a header within the first half.
CB: Pau Torres – 7/10 – Appeared to be in the appropriate place on the proper time on quite a few events and was composed on the ball.
LB: Lucas Digne – 6/10 – Didn’t cope with Salah significantly effectively however his nook deliveries had been lethal and will have received the sport on one other day.
DM: Youri Tielemans – 7/10 – At all times appeared to choose the appropriate move to get the guests away on the break every time there have been turnovers.
DM: Amadou Onana -7/10 – Received battle after battle within the centre of the park, serving to Villa keep a foothold within the sport all through.
AM: Morgan Rogers – 4/10 – Didn’t put himself about as he normally does, was unfastened in possession, and missed a golden probability early within the second half.
RW: Leon Bailey – 4/10 – Didn’t affect the sport from an attacking perspective and will effectively have been despatched off had Liverpool not completed off the transfer that led to the opener.
CF: Ollie Watkins – 5/10 – Was expertly marshalled by Konate and barely influenced proceedings in consequence.
LW: Jacob Ramsey – 6/10 – Had regarded full of life earlier than being compelled off with an damage proper on half-time.
Substitutes
SUB: John McGinn (45 for Ramsey) – 7/10 – Considered one of Aston Villa’s most threatening gamers within the second half.
SUB: Jhon Duran (65 for Watkins) – 6/10
SUB: Jaden Philogene (65 for Bailey) – 6/10
SUB: Ian Maatsen (74 for Digne) – N/A
SUB: Boubacar Kamara (74 for Onana) – N/A
Subs not used: Robin Olsen, Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia, Lamare Bogarde.
Supervisor
Unai Emery – 7/10 – Set his workforce up effectively sufficient that they may simply have gotten one thing had just a few bounces gone their means.
