Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa: Nunez & Salah's goals help Reds move 5 clear at top

Liverpool took full advantage of Manchester City's slip-up in the Premier League title race by beating Aston Villa to move five points clear in top spot.

Match Report

Just before the game at Anfield kicked off, the reigning champions were beaten 2-1 by Brighton.

That meant leaders Liverpool knew victory would ensure they opened up a decent gap to City heading into the international break.

Darwin Nunez opened the scoring in the first half, striding onto a loose ball after Mohamed Salah went down in a tangle with Leon Bailey following a brilliant counter-attack before firing beyond Emi Martinez.

Nunez really should have had a second not long after when he broke away following another quick break, but this time he drove his shot over.

It could have proved costly but for two fantastic saves by Caoimhin Kelleher to first deny Amadou Onana and then Diego Carlos before the interval.

Morgan Rogers then missed another big chance for Villa seconds after the restart when he clipped a shot wide when aiming for the far corner.

Chances after that were few in a tense second half, although Villa boss Unai Emery felt his side should have had a penalty for a shirt pull by Conor Bradley - an early replacement for the injured Trent Alexander-Arnold - on Pau Torres, but nothing was given after a review by the video assistant referee (VAR).

But Salah made sure of a big three points with six minutes left when he raced through and squeezed a shot home at the near post, scoring for a fourth successive league game.

The win was Liverpool's ninth in 11 Premier League games, while Aston Villa are eighth.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

11' Match Event for Liverpool vs Aston Villa

15' Tielemans makes a cross and Bailey meets it with his head but it's over the bar

20' Nunez takes the ball round the keeper and finishes! Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa

22' Watkins gets down in the box but the referee says no penalty

24' Trent leaves the pitch with an injury as Conor Bradley has replaced him

25' Watkins pulls a shot wide after Liverpool gave the ball away in midfield

33' CLOSE! Nunez charges towards Villa's penalty area but cannot get it on target

34' Rogers is booked for a foul on Van Dijk

36' GREAT SAVE! Onana's header is tipped over the bar by Caoimhin Kelleher

37' Another great save by Kelleher! Carlos's attempt is blocked by the keeper

38' Match Event for Liverpool vs Aston Villa

41' Nunez takes a shot from distance but it's well saved by Martinez

45' Jacob Ramsey cannot carry on and McGinn is on to replace him

46' Rogers has a great chance to equalise in front of the Kop but he puts it wide

47' Youri Tielemans sees yellow for wrestling Curtis Jones to the ground

49' A great chance for Liverpool but Darwin Nunez cannot find the target

59' A VAR check for a Villa penalty after Torres fouled by Bradley but no penalty

65' Gakpo & Szoboszlai replace Nunez & Jones; Duran & Philogene for Watkins & Bailey

84' Salah gets away on the counter and cooly finishes! Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Kelleher, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Mac Allister, Luis Díaz, Darwin Núñez, Curtis Jones, Gravenberch

Subs: W. Endo, Joe Gomez, Tsimikas, Cody Gakpo, Szoboszlai, Vitezslav Jaros, Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley, Tyler Morton

Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Digne, Tielemans, Carlos, Ollie Watkins, Bailey, P. Torres, Ngoyo, Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana, Jacob Ramsey

Subs: R. Olsen, McGinn, Mings, Buendia, Kamara, Maatsen, Jhon Durán, Jaden Philogene, Lamare Bogarde