Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa: Salah & Gravenberch score to help Reds back on track

Mohamed Salah scored his 250th goal for Liverpool as the reigning champions ended their losing streak with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.

Match Report

Having lost four straight league games, Liverpool knew another defeat would ensure they finished the weekend in the bottom half of the table, while they had also been unceremoniously dumped out of the EFL Cup by Crystal Palace in midweek.

And Arne Slot's side had to survive an early onslaught at a nervy Anfield, where Morgan Rogers cut inside to strike the post just five minutes in.

Rogers then saw a second effort repelled by Giorgi Mamardashvili, who also had to prevent a deflected Matty Cash cross from creeping into the top-right corner.

At the other end, Hugo Ekitike nodded Dominik Szoboszlai's deep cross home in the 43rd minute, though the goal was ruled out for offside following a VAR review.

But there would be no reprieve for Villa one minute into first-half stoppage time. Emiliano Martinez's terrible pass out from the back evaded Pau Torres and fell kindly for Salah, who slotted into an empty net to score his 250th goal for Liverpool in all competitions.

Torres would then have a role to play in Liverpool's second goal in the 58th minute, as Ryan Gravenberch's shot deflected off the Spaniard and beat Martinez.

Salah was denied a simple close-range finish by Ian Maatsen's clearance, while Ross Barkley lifted over on the turn for Villa, who never seriously threatened a comeback.

The result leaves Liverpool third in the table ahead of Sunday's matches, seven points behind leaders Arsenal, while Villa are three points back in 11th. 

Data Debrief: Salah ties Rooney in crucial win

Salah has now scored 250 goals for Liverpool in all competitions, becoming only the third Reds player to reach that figure, after Ian Rush (346) and Roger Hunt (285).

Few of those goals have come easier than his latest strike, as he side-footed home first-time after Martinez's pass fell straight to him.

The Egyptian is now up to 276 Premier League goal involvements for Liverpool (188 goals, 88 assists), with Wayne Rooney for Manchester United the only other player to reach that figure for a single club in the competition. 

Liverpool looked far more assured after taking the lead, and they are now unbeaten in their last 106 Premier League games at Anfield after scoring first (96 wins, 10 draws), last losing after striking first against Palace in April 2017.

Villa, meanwhile, have scored just nine goals in 10 Premier League games this season, the fewest by an Unai Emery team after 10 matches of any campaign in Europe's top five leagues.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' Rogers plays a lovely ball to Watkins before getting it back and striking post

15' Mac Allister finds Gakpo before Szoboszlai drives wide from outside the box

19' Cash smashes one towards the top corner but Mamardashvili makes a stunning save

22' Szoboszlai finds Gakpo before laying it back to Salah to hammer into the sky

23' Szoboszlai goes through on goal but can only find Martinez with the tame hit

27' Onana gets a bit of a shove in the back and collides with the advertising boards

38' Robertson swings in a free kick but Konate can't quite get enough on it

43' Ekitike heads in brilliantly but it's disallowed for offside

47' GOAL! Huge mistake of Martinez gifts Salah to score! Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa

48' Match Event for Liverpool vs Aston Villa

54' Gakpo finds the head of Mo Salah at the far post and nod back for Bradley

58' GOAL! Gravenberch slams past Emi after a huge flick! Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa

70' Donyell Malen decides to go alone and slices an effort wide of the post

74' Onana has a push at Alexis Mac Allister's neck and picks up a yellow card

77' Time for Liverpool's first change as Florian Wirtz replaces Hugo Ekitike

90' Highlight from Liverpool vs Aston Villa

Line-ups

Liverpool XI: Salah, Van Dijk, Robertson, Konate, Gakpo, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Gravenberch, Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley

Subs: Endo, Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Chiesa, Milos Kerkez, Wirtz, Ármin Pécsi, Trey Nyoni, Rio Ngumoha

Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Digne, McGinn, Ollie Watkins, P. Torres, Kamara, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Morgan Rogers, Evann Guessand, Amadou Onana

Subs: Lindelof, Marco Bizot, Barkley, Mings, Sancho, Malen, Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Ben Broggio