Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0: Salah stars and Kelleher makes key saves as Slot’s side go five points clear
Mohamed Salah set up Liverpool’s opening goal for Darwin Nunez against Aston Villa and put the result beyond doubt with a brilliant individual effort late in the game at Anfield.
The 2-0 win gives Liverpool a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League going into the international break. Manchester City had lost 2-1 to Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Saturday.
Nunez put Arne Slot’s side ahead from a tight angle in the 20th minute, and, from another counter-attack, Salah scored his eighth goal in his last 10 matches against Villa.
An injury to Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was forced off in the first half, will be the only concern for Liverpool fans.
Gregg Evans analyses the key talking points from Anfield…
Liverpool have momentum on their side
It has been a dream start for Slot, whose side is going from strength to strength as Manchester City slip further away.
City have lost four games in a row while Liverpool have won four in a row. When the pressure has been on Liverpool to take advantage, they have pounced without showing any fear.
As one of only two Premier League teams, alongside Newcastle United, not to drop a point from a winning position this season, Liverpool rarely look flustered under Slot and have an answer for everything thrown at them.
They have 15 wins from 17 games in all competitions and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Kelleher steps up again with key saves
Caoimhin Kelleher has drawn level with Alisson on appearances for Liverpool this season — and what an impact the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper has made.
In his eight starts in all competitions, Liverpool have won seven and drawn one. In the first half against Villa, Kelleher was alert to save superbly twice in quick succession from Amadou Onana and Diego Carlos as two inswinging corners caused Liverpool problems.
Kelleher has kept four clean sheets in eight games this season (Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
The greatest compliment you can pay Kelleher is that Liverpool haven’t missed Alisson and his form has been so good that Slot may have a selection dilemma when their No 1 does return.
Kelleher also performed well in midweek, pulling off a couple of important saves late on to keep a clean sheet against Bayer Leverkusen.
His mission is to become an undisputed first-choice goalkeeper, whether at Anfield or elsewhere, and his recent performances are doing his reputation no harm. The trouble is it is not only Alisson in his way at Liverpool — Giorgi Mamardashvili is joining from Valencia at the end of the season, adding another layer to an already complex challenge.
Nunez’s goal felt like a Klopp throwback
Organised chaos was the playing style Liverpool were moving away from but that was the only way to describe the events leading to the first goal.
Villa tried swinging a corner towards the front post — hoping for a flick-on — but the ball fell to the edge of the area where Salah and Luiz Diaz combined to get to the ball first. When it fell to Virgil van Dijk, he immediately looked to release Salah, who had already started his run.
Outpacing Leon Bailey, who was the last line of defence, Salah charged forward before tumbling under Bailey’s challenge — but there was Nunez to convert from a tight angle and send Anfield into wild celebration.
Nunez scores the opener against Villa (James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
The goal was reminiscent of life under Jurgen Klopp when Liverpool used to turn defence into attack at such speed and it was more of the same for their second, with Salah breaking forward from his own half to seal the win in the 84th minute.
Injury concern for Alexander-Arnold
Forced off after just 25 minutes, Alexander-Arnold’s injury adds to Liverpool’s growing list.
Alexander-Arnold faced a difficult opening period as he came up against the direct running of Jacob Ramsey, and then he dropped to the floor complaining of a problem after his side had taken the lead.
Alexander-Arnold was substituted in the first half (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold has started all of Liverpool’s Premier League and Champions League games this season (Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Salah are the others to do so) and has swiftly earned Slot’s trust.
Liverpool are already without Alisson and striker Diogo Jota.
What did Arne Slot say?
We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.
What next for Liverpool?
Sunday, November 24: Southampton (A), Premier League, 2pm GMT, 9am ET
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