Liverpool and Aston Villa played in Anfield one of the most entertaining matches of this round of Premier League. The atmosphere was on another level, with the crowd that wanted the three points. Liverpool sought the triumph after the last season missing in the UEFA Champions League.
Thiago and Van Dijk were missing for the Reds, with the defender who suffered the suspension of the red card in the last match with Newcastle.
Newcastle played with a back four but Liverpool was risky in the first two minutes. Dominic Szoboslai scored in the third minute with a stunner outside the box and sent his squad ahead. Liverpool was playing with three defenders with Trent Alexander Arnold playing from inside as a pivot. McAllister was the other defensive midfielder and that was the shape of Liverpool in the first half.
Villa starts to react…
Aston Villa appeared in zone Liverpool in the tenth minute with Moussa Diaby unable to find Ollie Watkins. Villa was vulnerable in the third part of the pitch. Robertson and Diaz played on the left and Curtis Jones was more advanced in the right side of the midfield.
Diego Carlos had a concern after being knocked in the knee and medical assistance was required in the 17th minute. He was unable to continue.
Unai Emery brought Leon Bailey on the pitch in the 19th minute and this substitution changed the strategy of Villa for the second half.
Salah and Nunez combine with the Uruguayan striker who finds the post and Matty Cash sends the ball into his net. Cash sends the ball into the net after the ball hits the post. But he was unlucky and in the opposite direction after the ball found his left knee.
Boubakar Kamara was harsh on Luiz Diaz and Simon Hooper shows him a yellow. Next free kick and Matip was found offside with his header ending wide.
Reds on the action
The Reds had another chance in the 30th minute and Nunez tried to find Jones, but Emiliano Martinez intercepted well and caught the ball.
McGinn fires a ball over the crossbar after 33 minutes with Moussa Diaby who served a very good last ball.
Nunez tries to find Salah one minute later but he is unlucky. Aston Villa saw the opposition zone but conceded a counter a minute later. Salah and Nunez combine once more and Nunez finds the bar. Liverpool creates in the left wing of the midfield and Aston Villa is quite shocked. They were apathetic in the first half and Emery needed to find something new to change the outcome of the game.
Moussa Diaby was the most promising player and the most dangerous one on Villa’s side. He was alone though and the support from his teammates was weak.
Salah on the other side has a good chance of aiming his left in the left corner of Martinez, but the Argentinian keeper has the response.
The second half started where the first finished with Liverpool in the attack. Salah presented Nunez with an empty net chance but the striker could not score.
Liverpool was insisting and Aston Villa chased the opponent and tried to close the spaces. Digne and Arnold’s clash produced a corner with Salah converting in the 55th minute. There was only one team on the pitch and this was Liverpool.
Aston Villa kept the possession only three minutes after the third goal and for Emery, this was the time to change things.
John McGinn had another chance in the 62nd, but his header was too weak for the hands of Ederson.
Last 25 minutes of the game
Klopp and Emery decide to make the first changes. Diogo Jota replaces Luis Diaz. Cody Gakpo is replaced by Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones is replaced by Harvey Elliot.
Zaniolo comes on the pitch for Leon Bailey and Villa tries to change the attacking strategy.
But this game was out of the control of Aston Villa. John Duran comes on for Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz is out for Yuri Tielemans. Jarrell Quansah is in for Liverpool and Trent Alexander Arnold leaving the pitch.
Liverpool had more chances and this made their game more effective and the substitutions had an immediate effect.
The match was decided and the last minutes spoke for Liverpool. They achieved a major win and are officially in the title race.
