Liverpool have opened up a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday evening.
Owing to Manchester City's 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in the 5.30pm kickoff, Liverpool fans were all too aware that victory for their side would see them build up an unassailable lead over the faltering champions.
Just as they did last weekend, Arne Slot's troops capitalised on the holders' mistakes, this time through counter-attacking excellence as Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah made the net bulge either side of the half-time whistle.
After overcoming some early time-wasting tactics from the visitors, whose game plan was evidently to frustrate the Reds as much as possible, Slot's men were in the ascendancy as Nunez finished off a lightning-quick counter-attack, but the remainder of the first 45 was far from comfortable.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off with an injury moments after the Uruguayan's strike, Caoimhin Kelleher had to pull off a couple of brilliant reaction saves from Villa corners, and Nunez spurned a glorious opportunity to make it two - again on the counter-attack.
As opposed to the blistering pace of the first half, the contest slowed to a crawl in the early period of the second 45, where Liverpool were not majorly threatening up front and Villa had a decent penalty shout for a Conor Bradley pull on Pau Torres waved away.
The Spaniard was then involved in a second incident inside the Reds box - being told to get up by David Coote after a clash with Ryan Gravenberch - which preceded the indomitable Salah completing the job with a quintessentially nonchalant finish.
As Slot's rampant Reds look down on the other 19 teams in the standings, the Lions are languishing outside of the European spots in eighth place, now reeling from their fourth straight loss across all competitions.
LIVERPOOL VS. ASTON VILLA HIGHLIGHTS
Darwin Nunez goal vs. Aston Villa (20th min, Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa)
Darwin Nunez takes over from Mohamed Salah to give Liverpool the lead 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 9, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/dUjhv27lS3
Well, where to start with this one?!
Liverpool deal with a Villa corner and Virgil van Dijk sends Salah away one-on-one with Emiliano Martinez, but Leon Bailey drags him back in what looks to be the most obvious red card challenge for denying a goalscoring opportunity.
Referee Coote lets play continue, though, and Nunez arrives on the scene to force Martinez wide before finishing high into the net. Replays show that the official waved away Liverpool appeals for a foul on Salah rather than playing advantage - a bewildering decision, but Nunez arguably saved his and Bailey's bacon!
Mohamed Salah goal vs. Aston Villa (84th min, Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa)
Mohamed Salah makes it 2-0 🤩
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 9, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/RMexZlwosS
They have had to weather a little bit of a storm in the past 10 minutes, but the die has now been cast, and Liverpool are going five points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
The Reds eventually clear their lines after a long throw into the box - Torres wanted a penalty for a foul by Gravenberch but was never getting one - and Diego Carlos makes a horrible error, heading the ball right against Salah's noggin just inside his own half.
The Egyptian accepts the gift, running clear on goal, hesitating for a second and delicately lifting the ball over a sprawling Martinez. He is already on double figures and goals and assists for the season!
MAN OF THE MATCH - MOHAMED SALAH
© Imago
Taking the phrase 'ageing like a fine wine' to a complete new level, Salah could hardly be doing any more to earn a new contract from the powers-that-be, moving onto 10 goals and 10 assists for the season in all competitions with his contributions this evening - no other player in Europe's big five leagues has hit double figures in both metrics so far in 2024-25.
Slot suggested in midweek that the ex-Chelsea man could still be doing the business in Europe at Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo's age, and based on current form, there is no reason why he will not be making nets ripple for fun in his late 30s.
LIVERPOOL VS. ASTON VILLA MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 63%-37% Aston Villa
Shots: Liverpool 14-12 Aston Villa
Shots on target: Liverpool 5-2 Aston Villa
Corners: Liverpool 2-9 Aston Villa
Fouls: Liverpool 11-15 Aston Villa
BEST STATS
PL assists:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) November 9, 2024
75 — Mo Salah
74 — Thierry Henry pic.twitter.com/6Nyd3vgugq
10 & 10 - Mohamed Salah is the first player to reach double figures for both goals (10) and assists (10) for a big five European League side in all competitions this season, while the Egyptian has now achieved this in each of his last four seasons for Liverpool. Unplayable. pic.twitter.com/t4JH5ytzz8
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 9, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
Once the international break is done and dusted, Liverpool return to top-flight action with a trip to Southampton on November 24, three days before a clash of the titans against Real Madrid in the Champions League, where Slot will no doubt hope to have Alexander-Arnold fit.
As for Villa, Emery's men will square up to Crystal Palace at home on November 23 before their own UCL clash with a European behemoth, as Juventus visit the West Midlands on November 27.
Ben Knapton
