Liverpool put their absences behind them and defeated Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield as they continued their impressive record.
Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa, Premier League, Anfield
Goals
Alexander-Arnold assisted Szoboszlai 3′.
Cash OG 22′ (nunez as assistance)
55′ Salah (assist Nunez)
On Sunday, those inside Anfield had just about found their seats when a Dominik Szoboszlai stunner arrowed in, forcing everyone to get up once more.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner escaped everyone, and Szoboszlai, the new favorite of the Kop, rocketed in from the edge of the box in a display of perfect technique.
The Villa team was vulnerable due to Liverpool’s comfortable lead against them, and little altered after injury to Diego Carlos.
Alexander-Arnold lofted a wonderful pass over to the approaching Mo Salah, who flicked the ball across to Darwin Nunez, whose effort bounced against the post and in through Matty Cash while playing slightly deeper than his typical advanced midfield position.
Joel Matip misdirected Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick when it should have been three, and Villa were denied at the other end due to poor communication and poor finishing.
After the break, neither team made any adjustments, and Villa had a great early opportunity, but Alisson was there to stop Cash, as he has often times already this season.
Salah was let free down the right flank by another beautiful pass from Alexander-Arnold. Salah then laid it off for Nunez with an outside-of-the-boot pass, but his strike partner missed the opportunity.
Nunez, however, paid it forward a few minutes later by flicking on Salah’s close-range conversion of Andy Robertson’s corner for a score of 3-0.
With a three-goal advantage, Jurgen Klopp showed off his attacking depth by replacing Curtis Jones, Luis Diaz, and Nunez, who were given a thunderous send-off, with Harvey Elliott, Diogo Jota, and Cody Gakpo.
From that point on, Liverpool had complete control of the ball and was hardly ever put to the test anywhere close to Alisson’s goal, cruising to their third victory in as many games.
Any pity for Unai Emery’s team vanished as their supporters chose the national anthem late in the game, angry about how Villa was treated at Anfield.
