Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0 - Match report
Villa were beaten in the Premier League for the first time since August as they slid to defeat at Liverpool.
The visitors twice struck the woodwork at Anfield before an Emi Martinez error gifted Mo Salah the opener.
Ryan Gravenberch then doubled the home side’s advantage with a deflected effort just before the hour mark.
Villa, who would have gone third in the table with a win, now find themselves in the bottom half.
Analysis
Villa had arrived on Merseyside aiming for a fifth straight league win, while the hosts were looking to avoid a fifth straight defeat.
But it was the defending champions who emerged victorious thanks to a much-improved performance, albeit with a helping hand from their visitors.
Villa were well in the game before Martinez’s blunder on the stroke of half-time. The keeper passed the ball straight to Salah, who could not miss.
Gravenberch’s goal then gave Villa a climb which always looked too steep, as they failed to test home keeper Giorgio Mamardashvili in the second half.
Defeat continued a rotten run against Liverpool, the only member of the so-called Big Six they have failed to beat under Unai Emery.
Anfield was loud at kick-off but Villa came close to quieting the crowd inside five minutes.
Morgan Rogers found Watkins with a lofted through pass and though the latter’s first touch was heavy and ruined his own chances of shooting, he was able to play the back to his team-mate, who from outside the box curled an effort off the far post.
Dominik Szoboszlai had Liverpool’s first effort with an effort from distance which flashed a foot or so wide of the post.
But the Hungary international would then spurn a far better opportunity, shooting weakly at Martinez after a heavy touch from Boubacar Kamara had put him through on goal.
By then Villa had themselves twice gone close again.
Only a superb stop from Mamardasvili prevented Matty Cash’s shot, which took a nick off Virgil van Dijk, from creeping inside the angle of post and bar.
The keeper deflected it onto the woodwork and was then well placed, a couple of minutes later, to parry a long-range Rogers’ attempt.
Evann Guessand then almost went through on goal only to be held up by good last-ditch defending from Andy Robertson and then van Dijk.
The Ivory Coast international then rather blotted his copybook when sliding in low to bring down Cody Gakpo on the edge of the Villa box. Szoboszlai hit the free-kick low but Martinez was equal to it.
The keeper was rooted to the spot when Gakpo headed home Szoboszlai’s cross but replays quickly showed the Liverpool forward had been comfortably offside.
Villa’s reprieve, however, was short-lived. In the first minute of stoppage time Martinez passed straight to Salah ensuring the Egyptian’s 250th goal for the Reds was among his easiest.
Martinez wore a look of frustration and Villa, having played well, were suddenly chasing the game.
Their task got harder when Gravenberch doubled the home side’s lead 13 minutes into the second half. This time Villa went long from the back but when Torres’ long ball only found Van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister set Gravenberch running at the visiting defence. Torres, diving in, could only succeed in deflecting the shot beyond Martinez.
Emery brought Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen off the bench and the latter had Villa’s first real attempt of the second half with 20 minutes remaining, his shot flying wide of the post.
Villa suffered a further blow in stoppage time when Tyrone Mings, who had replaced Torres off the bench, was forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Key Moments
45+1 GOAL Mo Salah slots home after a dreadful mistake by Villa keeper Emi Martinez.
58 GOAL Ryan Gravenberch doubles Liverpool’s lead with a shot which deflects off Pau Torres to beat Martinez.
Teams
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Mamardashvili, Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Salah, Szoboszlai, Gakpo, Ekitike (Wirtz 77) Subs not used: Pesci, Gomez, Endo, Kerkez, Chiesa, Nyoni, Ngumoha, Woodman (gk).
Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Torres (Mings 74), Digne (Maatsen 75), Onana, Kamara, Guessand (Malen 59), McGinn (Barkley 59), Rogers, Watkins (Sancho 75) Subs not used: Lindelof, Bogarde, Broggio, Bizot (gk).
