Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the action as Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield
There was no happy homecoming for Steven Gerrard, no “celebrating like a crazy devil,” no narratives feeding into future ambitions. The man he termed “100 per cent the best player in the world now” saw to that, firing in a low, hard penalty to further Liverpool’s title fight.
Mohamed Salah’s direct goal contribution ticked over to 14 consecutive league games, his 67th-minute winner deflating an Aston Villa side that departed without a shot on target.
The task was not to make it easy for Liverpool, but Gerrard’s men didn’t figure it would be this hard to conjure threat of their own.
The scoreline belied a story of enterprise versus total obstruction, with substitute Diogo Jota missing a glorious chance late on to make that more clear.
Man City vs Wolves: Jesus vs Wolves
Gabriel Jesus likes playing against Wolves. He has scored five goals in three Premier League starts against the midlands team.
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Man City vs Wolves: Traore the key for Wolves?
Adama Traore has scored a career-best three Premier League goals against Manchester City, including a brace in Wolves’ only Premier League away triumph in this fixture in October 2019.
Man City vs Wolves: Foden on the bench for City
Phil Foden has scored 21 goals and assisted 15 since the start of last season which is three more direct goal involvements than any other Manchester City player but he’ll have to make an impact from the bench today.
Man City vs Wolves: A tough task for the visitors
Wolves have won just three of their last 23 top-flight away games at the reigning champions, although one of those victories came at the Etihad Stadium in 2019-20. Can they earn a repeat results today?
Man City vs Wolves: Bernardo in ‘undroppable' form
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva has scored six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances - one more than in his previous 61 games.
He is the top scoring midfielder in the Premier League this season with seven goals and in such good form that Pep Guardiola has branded him ‘undroppable’.
Man City vs Wolves: Pep Guardiola refuses to discuss Erling Haaland to Man City rumours
Pep Guardiola has refused to discuss the prospect of Manchester City signing Erling Haaland.
Mino Raiola, the agent of the prolific Borussia Dortmund striker, mentioned the Premier League champions as a potential destination when saying there is a “big chance” the Norwegian could move next summer.
Haaland, 21, is one of the hottest properties in the game having scored 72 goals in 74 appearances for Dortmund since joining the club in January 2020.
Pep Guardiola refuses to discuss Erling Haaland to Man City rumours
The Norwegian striker is being linked with all of Europe’s biggest clubs
Man City vs Wolves: Wolves to earn away win?
Wolves are winless in three Premier League matches on the road, although they have lost just twice in seven away fixtures this season.
They are the only side yet to concede a set-piece goal in the Premier League this season. In 2020-21, they let in 14 goals from set-plays, the most of any top-flight team bar Leeds’ 15.
Man City vs Wolves: City to get back to winning ways?
Manchester City’s Champions League defeat at RB Leipzig ended a seven-match winning streak in all competitions.
Their tally of 31 top-flight league victories in a calendar year is bettered only by Liverpool, with 33 in 1982, and Chelsea, with 32 in 2005.
Man City vs Wolves: Lage on December schedule
Wolves manager Bruno Lage spoke about the jam-packed Premier League schedule across December and how he is preparing to deal with it one game at a time. Lage said:
It’s what I said at the beginning of the month; this is a real test. In the Premier League, every game is a challenge for us, but every time you go to play against these teams it is an opportunity for us to show our work.
“As you know, we played the last game against Liverpool. We were there, we tried to play our game, and I think we did well. We suffered a goal late in the game, but the players did everything I asked.
“Now, one game at a time, we’re just focused on Man City and what we can do. I am sure of two things; they will have more time with the ball than us, and I’m confident when we have the ball, we will play our game – like we did against Liverpool.”
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