Liverpool extended their Premier League lead to five points with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, seizing their chance after Manchester City’s earlier loss to Brighton.
Few would have expected Liverpool to be in such a commanding position at this stage of the season, especially under new manager Arne Slot. Yet here they are, breaking expectations and building serious momentum domestically and in Europe.
With the Anfield crowd buzzing at kickoff, Liverpool knew that a win would stretch their gap at the top heading into the international break. They didn’t waste time asserting their intent, with Darwin Nunez firing them ahead in the 20th minute.
The Uruguayan showed his trademark blend of pace and sharp positioning, latching onto a loose ball after Mohamed Salah tangled with Villa’s Leon Bailey. Nunez made no mistake, drilling a precise shot past Emi Martinez to open the scoring.
However, the prolific forward’s finishing touch faltered soon after. Nunez broke away with another chance moments later, this time skying his shot over the bar, a miss that brought collective gasps from the crowd. Villa, to their credit, did not retreat.
They pressed back and came close themselves, with Caoimhin Kelleher twice saving Liverpool from conceding – first from Amadou Onana and then from Diego Carlos in a frantic first half.
The second half saw Villa return with intent, and Morgan Rogers missed a golden chance just after the restart, sending a shot wide of the far post when an equaliser seemed within reach.
As the game wore on, Villa’s Unai Emery appealed for a penalty following Conor Bradley’s shirt pull on Pau Torres, but after a VAR check, the referee waved play on. Anfield breathed a sigh of relief, and Liverpool stayed composed, their defensive organisation on full display under Slot’s guidance.
With six minutes left on the clock, Liverpool’s main man Salah made sure of the result. Breaking free from Villa’s backline, he darted forward and slipped a shot in at the near post, sending Anfield into celebration as he netted for the fourth consecutive league game. It was the goal Liverpool needed to settle the nerves, showing once again how the Egyptian winger can produce the goods just when they’re most needed.
The victory marked Liverpool's ninth in 11 league games and 15th in 17 across all competitions under Slot. Slot’s measured approach, balancing solid defense with quick breaks, has given Liverpool a new kind of strength in the title race. His side may not always dazzle, but they continue to grind out results and are showing a discipline and depth that wasn’t always present in recent seasons.
For Villa, this loss was their fourth in a row. Emery’s men had their moments, and he will no doubt feel his side deserved more from the match, especially with the missed chances and penalty appeal. But ultimately, it was another setback, and they find themselves in need of a reset during the international break.
Liverpool, however, march on, proving their resilience week by week, and now find themselves sitting comfortably at the top – a position that, if they keep up this form, they might just hold onto as the season rolls on.
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