Liverpool v Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Reds return to the top of the table
Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa: Nunez and Salah strike for the Reds to take them five points clear at the top
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool continued Arne Slot’s dream start to his tenure with a confident 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday night.
The Reds dominated early on, eventually capitalising as Mo Salah ran clear on the counter and Darwin Nunez collected the ball to fire past Emi Martinez.
Both sides had chances in the rest of the first half, with Villa forcing two great saves from Kelleher, though the first half ended with the home side ahead.
The second half was a far less eventful affair, with Liverpool dominating possesion but both sides finding it difficult to carve out clear-cut chances.
As Villa chased an equaliser, Salah chased a clearance and came off better, with the ball defelcting into his path to take him one-v-one by the halfway line. The Egyptian raced to the Villa box and calmly lifted a chip over Martinez to finish the match and take Liverpool back to the summit of the Premier League.
Follow all the Premier League action with our live blog below:
Slot: Liverpool “not getting carried away"
In his press conference, Arne Slot told the media that he is “not trying to manage expectations in the squad because we don’t talk about it.
“The only expectation I have is that they put in the effort every day and they have done that. Usually with that results come as well.”
He added that the squad are “not getting carried away by being top of the league”, though he hopes that fans can enjoy the situation.
As well as his comments on Curtis Jones, the Dutchman also commented on Luis Diaz’s upturn in form: “I have no clue why, but maybe it is because the team provides a lot of chances for these players. If they are in a promising situation, then they can score a goal,” he said.
Match facts
Only Manchester City (32) have faced fewer shots on target than Liverpool in the Premier League this season (34), with the Reds also conceding the fewest goals (six) and having the lowest xG against figure this term (8.1).
Meanwhile, no player has been involved in more Premier League goals so far this season than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (12, with seven goals and five assists). The Egyptian has also had the most touches in the opposition box, with 96, while of players to have had 20+ shots, no-one has hit a higher percentage of them on target (67 per cent, or 20 out of 30.
Emery: Champions League is “the objective"
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Unai Emery said that Villa are “enjoying the way we are doing”.
“Last year was a very successful season in the Premier League, getting to the Champions League. This year, the objective for us is to keep it.
“There are another seven teams that we have to be more intelligent than and more competitive. After last year, we were a surprise when we were getting the fourth position.
“We are a competitive team to be in the top seven, top five, top four.
“If we want to play in the Champions League or in Europe, if we want to be contenders for a trophy, we have to play three matches a week. If we are not able to play, focusing mentally and physically in this direction, we’re not going to get our objective,” he added.
“Tomorrow at Liverpool will be completely difficult, they are the favourites to beat us. They are the favourites to win the Premier League this season, now in front of [Manchester] City and Arsenal because they started very well.
“Of course we are motivated, we are excited as well and we are keeping balance.
“Hopefully on the field we can show our capacity to face them, competing and with the possibility to get points.”
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
Having won just one of their six Premier League home games against Aston Villa between 2009 and 2014 (D2 L3), Liverpool have now won five of their last six at Anfield against the Villans (D1).
However, only Manchester United (12) and Chelsea (7) have won more Premier League away games against Liverpool than Aston Villa – they’ve won six, as have Arsenal.
These two sides have met 181 times in the past, with the first meeting dating back as far as 1894. Liverpool have won 91, with Villa winning 52 and 38 ending as draws.
When the sides last met, towards the end of last season in mid-May, they played out a 3-3 draw at Villa Park, though Liverpool eased to a 3-0 win in this fixture last time out.
Arne Slot details reasons for excellent Curtis Jones form and what he must do next
Curtis Jones continues to earn plaudits and positive reviews after a fine run of form with Liverpool which has resulted in him earning a call-up to Lee Carsley’s England squad.
Jones produced a virtuoso showing against Chelsea recently, winning a penalty and scoring the decisive goal, before further assists of late against Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen.
Arne Slot has praised him more than once of late and the Reds’ head coach was asked about Jones’ improved performances and what he had altered in the midfielder’s game to bring out his best form, replying several factors might have been at play - one of which was not down to himself in the slightest.
Slot details reasons for excellent Curtis Jones form and what he must do next
The midfielder has been called up by England after starring at Anfield recently
Team news
Unai Emery has made two changes to the side that fell to a surprising 4-1 loss to Spurs last week.
In defence, Matty Cash comes out for Diego Carlos, with Ezri Konsa covering at right-back.
In midfield, Leon Bailey replaces John McGinn on the right-hand side.
Team news
Arne Slot has made three changes to the side that beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend. In defence, Andy Robertson comes in for Kostas Tsimikas.
In midfield, Curtis Jones replaces Dominik Szoboszlai, with Luis Diaz coming in for Cody Gakpo.
Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Salah, Jones, Diaz; Nunez.
Subs: Jaros, Endo, Szoboszlai, Gomez, Gakpo, Quansah, Bradley, Morton.
Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Ramsey, Rogers, Bailey; Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Bogarde, Maatsen, Mings, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia, Philogene, Duran.
Liverpool’s historic start
Arne Slot has made the best start by any Premier League manager in history, with 14 wins from 16 competitive games in charge.
Slot is the first Liverpool manager to win as many as eight of his first 10 top-flight fixtures in charge of the club.
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