Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0
Jurgen Klopp ensured that his club were able to turn down the advances of the Saudi Pro League for talisman Mohamed Salah, much to the delight of the fans. They welcomed Unai Emery’s Aston Villa to Anfield with Darwin Nunez starting after his heroics at St James’ Park.
Villa seem to think the way to shut The Reds down is to slow the game down to a complete standstill but their dithering at the back gifted the hosts an early corner. As the ball came in, it dropped to Szoboszlai on the edge of the box who hit it first time with his left foot, pinging it into the bottom corner of the goal.
Liverpool were piling on the pressure and as Nunez shot, his effort smashed against the post and was put in his own goal by Cash who could not adjust his feet quick enough. Villa were in danger of sinking before half time in this one.
Alexander-Arnold played a brilliant ball into the box from a free kick which found Matip in the box with a free header. The centre back headed just wide of the post when he really should have made it 3-0 to Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Credit: @LFC
Aston Villa created their first real chance of the game when Digne crossed but Bailey and Watkins went for the same ball and the combined effort went narrowly wide of Alisson’s post. Liverpool almost added another before half-time when Nunez struck the woodwork, a let off for the visitors.
As the second half started Digne played another dangerous ball into the box which was headed by Cash but Alisson made a fantastic save to keep the ball out despite the visitors claiming it had crossed the line. This is the one form of technology that we can rely upon to be right most of the time.
Salah then played a teasing ball to the back post but it was in that area of uncertainty as to whether you should head it or kick it and Nunez’s effort went narrowly wide of the post. It was not long before a ball from Alexander-Arnold was flicked on by Nunez for Salah to tap in at the back post to make it 3-0.
Aston Villa had great hopes for this season following their summer acquisitions but this game really showed where they were in terms of competing with the teams at the top of the table. Mac Allister played a ball in behind the defence to Salah but his effort was tipped over the bar by Martinez to prevent another goal.
Jurgen Klopp’s side took the points at Anfield, Unai Emery will now realise the work he still has to do if he wants to make his side competitive with the best teams in this league. Liverpool maintained their unbeaten start to the season as we headed into the international break.
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