Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0 - Report and pictures

As many had predicted, Dean Smith’s team were unable to pull off Mission Impossible as they became the 17th visiting team to taste defeat in the 17th Premier League match at Anfield this season.

Yet for 70 minutes until Sadio Mane’s opener, they certainly threatened to spring a surprise against the champions, Anwar El Ghazi bringing a sharp save from Alisson Becker with the game still goal-less while several other promising positions came and went.

But the goal which might have set them on their way to a truly remarkable result never arrived and after Mane had broken the deadlock, substitute Curtis Jones then sealed victory for the home side late on.

Smith will take heart from his team’s general display but this was another afternoon when their lack of bite in attack was laid bare. Villa have now scored only two goals in their last seven Premier League matches and it is that reason, more than any other, they find themselves in the relegation zone with five matches to play.

Despite all their effort, this was another afternoon which could be filed alongside the draws with Sheffield United and Newcastle as a missed opportunity.

For the moment the gap between Villa and safety remains a single point but by the time they kick-off against Manchester United on Thursday it could be wider, with Watford hosting Norwich on Tuesday night.

Villa will need to show every ounce of the commitment they displayed here against United and in the four remaining matches after that if they are to dig their way out of trouble.

Defeat also meant a losing return to Anfield for Pepe Reina, the goalkeeper who made 285 consecutive Premier League appearances for the Reds and was recalled here by Dean Smith in place of Orjan Nyland.

Smith made four further changes, one of which was enforced with Neil Taylor replacing the injured Matt Targett at left-back.

John McGinn and the wing duo of Anwar El Ghazi and Trezeguet were also restored to the line-up.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp made three changes to the team beaten 4-0 at Manchester City last Thursday with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Divock Origi all handed starts.

Villa’s first-half performance was a microcosm of their form since restart but considering the opposition that was encouraging.

Smith’s men were solid in defence, energetic in midfield yet continued to lack a focal point in attack.

Ezri Konsa, who had recovered from a foot injury sustained in the previous weekend’s 1-0 defeat to Wolves, had what was technically the first effort on goal of the game when he headed over Jack Grealish’s free-kick.

Douglas Luiz then drilled a half volley straight at Alisson from the edge of the box, with Grealish then delivering a teasing cross which Andy Robertson was forced to head behind.

The chief frustration lay in Villa’s inability to make more of several promising positions, Keinan Davis at one point failing to spot Grealish’s run through the middle during a counter-attack.

Still, at least Liverpool’s attack was also being well-marshalled. When Reina plucked a 36th minute free-kick out of the sky, it was the first time he had handled the ball in the match. A minute later he made his only save of the half, diving to his left to hold a low Mo Salah volley.

Otherwise Liverpool were sluggish and off-key, Keita and Fabinho both guilty more than once of miscuing passes out of play.

Villa’s biggest worry concerned Grealish, who appeared to twist his right ankle while playing a pass in the early minutes and required treatment on no fewer than three occasions, including during the drinks break.

The skipper was back out from the second half and soon in the thick of the action, racing at the home defence as Villa suddenly found themselves with numbers in attack. Grealish played in El Ghazi on the right and the winger’s shot was saved by Alisson at the near post.

Tyrone Mings then rose highest to head the resulting corner back across goal but the ball would not fall for Kortney Hause.

Villa found themselves in again when Luiz robbed Virgil van Dijk 30 yards from goal but the Liverpool defender was able to recover and dispossess El Ghazi.

After Klopp had introduced Jordan Henderson, Georgino Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino on the hour mark, van Dijk was needed again to block Grealish’s powerful shot from the edge of the box.

The missed opportunities made the simple nature of Mane’s goal even more galling. Alexander-Arnold cut in from the right flank and found Keita on the left-hand side of the box. The latter took a moment to assess his options before firing in a low cross which Mane, arriving at the far post, crashed home via the underside of the bar.

Smith introduced Jota and Mbwana Samatta in a bid to give his team fresh energy but Reina was required to deny the hosts a second, diving to his left to push Firmino’s shot wide of the post.

Villa had spells of pressure in the closing stages without fashioning a clear chance and with a minute to go their fate was sealed when Salah headed Robertson’s centre back across goal and Jones applied the first-time finish.

Grealish almost grabbed a consolation with a low shot which Alisson did well to push round the post at full stretch.

Teams

Liverpool (4-3-3): Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, van Dijk, Robertson, Keita, Fabinho (Henderson 60), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Wijnaldum 60), Salah, Origi (Firmino 60), Sane Subs not used: Minamino, Shaqiri, Jones, Elliott, Williams, Adrian (gk).

Villa (4-5-1): Reina, Konsa, Hause, Mings, Taylor, El Ghazi (Jota 73), McGinn, Luiz, Grealish, Trezeguet (Vassilev 85), Davis (Samatta 73) Subs not used: Guilbert, Elmohamady, Nakamba, Hourihane, Lansbury, Nyland (gk).