Liverpool are five points clear of the field and the Premier League leaders were driven there by a familiar face as Mohamed Salah scored a goal and chipped in a historic assist in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday.
The Reds took advantage of City slipping to a loss at Brighton, scoring in the 20th minute through Darwin Nunez off Salah’s 75th Premier League assist before he scored his 165th PL goal to salt it away late.
The 75th assist pushes him ahead of Thierry Henry for 13th all-time, as Salah now leads all Premier League players in goal contributions this season with 15.
Villa had a day’s less rest and looked it at times following a UCL trip to Club Brugge in Belgium. Unai Emery’s men have now only taken a point out of their of last nine available in the Premier League fixtures.
Liverpool’s 28 points are five clear of Man City. Aston Villa’s 18 points leave them eighth, but just one off of third place.
We’re still witnessing the greatness of Mo Salah
Let’s be real — there are very few Premier League players who have come anywhere near the career of Mohamed Salah. The 32-year-old Egyptian is now 13th all-time in assists and eighth in goals after adding to both columns on Saturday, and we need to appreciate it because we just don’t know whether he’ll stay with the Anfield set beyond this summer. He’s on pace for a sixth PL season with double-digit goals and assists, and it seems like he’s one of those rare birds who can stay prolific for as long as he likes. It would be excellent if we saw him stay and try to chase down Ian Rush’s Liverpool record for goals — Salah’s about 120 goals away from the 63-year-old Welshman.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa player ratings
(from fotmob.com)
Liverpool vs Aston Villa player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Liverpool vs Aston Villa player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Liverpool return from the international break to meet Southampton at St. Mary’s on Sunday, November 24 before hosting Real Madrid and Manchester City back-to-back.
Villa host Palace on November 23, then Juventus come to town on November 27. Chelsea away follows that.
How to watch Liverpool vs Aston Villa live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Saturday (November 9)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
Liverpool vs Aston Villa final score: 2-0
Darwin Nunez 20', Mohamed Salah 84'
Liverpool vs Aston Villa live updates — By Nick Mendola
Mohamed Salah goal! Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa (84th minute)
There he is, doing the thing.
What a player, this Mohamed Salah, who gets a good bounce and tears away on a 70-yard drive toward Emiliano Martinez.
He’s got work to do, and opens his hips to force attention to fellow runners before slipping the ball past Martinez.
Deserved, and Liverpool are very likely to go five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Liverpool have control but still 1-0
Arne Slot’s team definitely deserves their lead but there’s a bit of a 2023-24 vibe to the game.
Can the Reds put it away. We’re entering the final 12 minutes but Villa remain in this and are getting on the ball enough to maintain a threat.
Still, it’s Liverpool’s to lose.
Subs
Unai Emery makes two moves, as Jhon Duran comes on for Ollie Watkins and Jadon Philogene enters for Leon Bailey. John McGinn had entered before halftime for Jacob Ramsey, so that’s three total moves for Villa.
Liverpool introduces Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai for Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones.
Villa get 46th minute chance
Ibrahima Konate is felled in a collision and that leads to a loose ball for Morgan Rogers.
The Villa man has to hit from a tough angle, though, and cannot get it on goal.
Konate is limping a bit but will try to continue for now.
Halftime — Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa
Pretty even game.
Liverpool have shaded possession but this game would be fair if level.
Sixteen total shots between the sides — nine to Villa — and Caoimhin Kelleher’s made a difference between the sticks for the Reds.
Mohamed Salah makes more history
Salah is now just the 13th player in Premier League history to pile up 75 assists in the competition.
He’s 13th all-time, and closing in on the 10th-place mark held by one David Beckham. See the list here.
He’s also now one assist behind Bukayo Saka for the early-season lead in the PL. Check that list here.
Kelleher keeps it level
Caoimhin Kellerher is under fire but the sheet stays clean.
He handles a pair of corner kicks, but is a bit lucky when a missed punch of a corner ends up with the ball missing the far post.
1-0 Liverpool, 39'.
Trent Alexander-Arnold injury
Liverpool’s star right back is down, and will not be able to continue through an apparent leg injury.
Conor Bradley enters the fray.
Darwin Nunez goal — Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa (20th minute)
Trent Alexander-Arnold picks up a loose ball at the edge of the 18 after both teams had crowded Tielemans’ shallow free kick.
It’s a sensational cut pass to send Mohamed Salah toward goal, and it looks like the Egyptian might’ve drawn a red card off Leon Bailey with his blazing run.
It quickly becomes a non-starter, because Darwin Nunez was always following the ball and drills it over a sliding Emiliano Martinez.
Salah gets the assist.
Better from Villa
Watkins looks up for it today, and Villa have won a 20th-minute corner kick with good pressure deep in Liverpool’s third.
Youri Tielemans has also been bright but his driven near-post is a problem for the Villans.
Not a lot early as Ollie Watkins fires over
A quiet first 10 minutes of play despite a good buzz coming from the Anfield crowd.
Ollie Watkins gets on the end of a rare bit of early Villa possession and sails a shot over the cross bar.
Liverpool lineup
Kelleher, Robertson, van Dijk, Konate, Alexander-Arnold, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Jones, Diaz, Salah, Nunez
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Bailey, Onana, Tielemans, Ramsey, Rodgers, Watkins
Liverpool team news, focus
Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk have been a daunting duo, and allow the Reds fullbacks to adventure. Watch out for more danger from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kostas Tsimikas (or Andy Robertson). Liverpool could, however, use a healthy Alisson Becker.
OUT: Harvey Elliott (foot), Alisson Becker (thigh), Diogo Jota (chest), Federico Chiesa (other)
Aston Villa team news, focus
Villa are healthy and deep, so either Jhon Duran or Ollie Watkins should have a chance to be fresh atop the attack regardless of midweek action.
OUT: Matty Cash (calf), Ross Barkley (undisclosed)
Liverpool vs Aston Villa prediction
Maybe? Or maybe not. These are two good managers and deep teams, but the day’s rest really does seem like a big deal at this stage in the season. Liverpool 2-1 Villa.
