A Villa 1 – 3 Liverpool
5 min read
Liverpool moved as much as sixth within the Premier League desk with a 3-1 win over Aston Villa in a vastly entertaining recreation at Villa Park.
Mohamed Salah opened the scoring for Liverpool after simply 5 minutes and Jurgen Klopp’s facet doubled the benefit late within the half when Virgil van Dijk’s shot deflected into the far nook of the online. However Villa’s second-half salvo threatened a comeback.
Ollie Watkins’ expertly-placed header halved the deficit and possibilities continued to movement at each ends in a wide-open contest with Darwin Nunez notably wasteful. However Stefan Bajcetic got here off the bench to attain his first senior objective and seal the factors for Liverpool.
The consequence marks Unai Emery’s first Premier League defeat since changing Steven Gerrard and there have been actually positives for the Spaniard. However such is the efficiency of this Liverpool group, going toe-to-toe with Salah and the remainder all the time a danger.
How Liverpool beat Villa
Liverpool have been on their option to a 3rd consecutive Premier League win for the primary time this season early within the recreation because of Salah’s breakthrough objective and it was a magnificence. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s outrageous go discovered Andy Robertson who arrange Salah.
It was a reminder of how Liverpool can lower via the opposition with prime quality and with Villa choosing a excessive line of defense there have been alternatives all through. However the dwelling facet prompted loads of issues on the different finish – and it made for an awesome recreation.
Watkins wasted a few possibilities and Leon Bailey miskicked when nicely positioned. It proved expensive when Salah teed up Van Dijk to measure the ball into the online on his left foot, the strike discovering its well beyond Robin Olsen after deflecting off defender Ezri Konsa.
However Villa stored coming. Watkins evaded Joel Matip to move the ball into the nook and the momentum with Emery’s males. Nunez would have needed to take the blame for the dropped factors following various misses – however as an alternative he arrange the important thing objective.
After bursting away down the left channel, the Uruguayan did nicely to maintain the ball in play and substitute Bajcetic confirmed actual composure to skip previous Olsen earlier than beating Tyrone Mings on the objective line. It was powerful on Villa however Liverpool’s high quality informed ultimately.
Hardworking Nunez divides opinion
Darwin Nunez outmuscles Lucas Digne
Former Republic of Eire worldwide Andy Townsend, on co-commentary for this recreation, named Nunez as his participant of the match and that made some sense given his keen operating, however the striker’s wastefulness won’t have impressed everybody watching.
Nunez jumped over the ball when it seemed simpler to complete together with his left foot then misdirected a header extensive when unmarked. He shinned a volley after operating clear via on objective after which didn’t beat Olsen from point-blank vary. That was all within the first half.
His contact is much from positive, his decision-making lower than exemplary, however such is his operating energy and urge for food to work that few forwards within the Premier League are capable of finding themselves in such good positions as typically as Nunez. It proved decisive ultimately.
One last run in behind the defence led to Liverpool’s third objective. That’s the reason the long-term prognosis for Nunez’s Anfield profession stays optimistic. Absolutely anybody who is ready to be on the top of this many possibilities goes to attain objectives – and plenty of them.
Liverpool’s win in stats
- Liverpool have received three consecutive Premier League video games for the primary time since successful their last three video games of the 2021-22 marketing campaign
- Liverpool full-back Andrew Robertson assisted his 54th Premier League objective on this match, making him the all-time main assister amongst defenders in Premier League historical past
- Mohamed Salah scored his fifty fifth away Premier League objective for Liverpool; the joint most of any Reds participant, degree with Michael Owen
- Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins has scored 5 objectives in 5 Premier League appearances in opposition to Liverpool, two greater than he is scored in opposition to another facet
- Stefan Bajcetic scored his first Premier League objective aged 18 years and 65 days, turning into Liverpool third youngest Premier League scorer, behind Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling
- Ben Doak got here off the bench for Liverpool to make his Premier League debut aged 17 years and 45 days, turning into the youngest ever Scottish participant within the competitors’s historical past
What’s subsequent?
Sunday 1st January 1:00pm
Kick off 2:00pm
Aston Villa are again in motion on New 12 months’s Day once they face Tottenham away from dwelling stay on Sky Sports activities Premier League.
Liverpool should not but accomplished in 2022. They host Leicester stay on Friday night earlier than taking over Brentford on January 2. Each video games are stay on Sky.
