Liverpool 2-0 Villa: Arne Slot goes back to winning formula, are peak Reds back?

Liverpool put their horror run behind them by beating Aston Villa and sent a statement to the rest of the league that they are far from done in their pursuit of glory this season.

Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch scored the goals in a convincing display by the champions to end a run of four league defeats in a row.

Merseyside man LEWIS STEELE was at a chilly Anfield to test the temperature of the Reds – and here are the big talking points…

Slot goes back to the winning formula

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So goes the old adage, but the Slot Machine has seen a lot of tweaks and changes so far this season.

Now, though, Arne Slot has gone back to the winning formula – or as close to it as he could get. The tried-and-tested midfield trio of Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister were back together – Florian Wirtz started as a substitute – and Slot also gave a first league start of the season to Andy Robertson, with Milos Kerkez dropped.

Hugo Ekitike and Giorgi Mamardashvili were the only new signings in the XI and both were picked more out of necessity as Liverpool have no other senior fit players in their positions.

And, as if by magic, the winning formula worked. Who would have thought? The blueprint that helped them win the Premier League at a canter was the one that brought Liverpool their best performance, arguably, of the season.

Salah back to his best

Two hundred and fifty. No, not how many millions of pounds Salah would be worth to Liverpool – although one could make that argument – but how many goals he has scored since signing for the club.

Of those 250, 203 were with his left foot and just 38, including this milestone-clinging strike, were with his right. It is tempting to say that this was one of the easiest of his career and while there have been many more eye-catching, Salah made it look easy.

Many forwards may have panicked when seeing the ball surprisingly handed to them gift-wrapped which is how it came in Salah’s direction from Emiliano Martinez. But the Egyptian, without even pausing for thought, confidently passed into the goal.

‘I think this is the Mo, I, we, him want to see,’ said Slot on his talisman who was the man of the match even without his goal. He was dangerous every time he got the ball, put in a good defensive shift and caused problems for Villa throughout.

This was his best performance of the season and comes after a thunderous strike – albeit a consolation goal – against Brentford last week. Signs are starting to show that, after an incredibly slow start to the campaign, Salah is finding his feet again.

Asked if he was happy with his season, the Egyptian said: ‘No, but I know football. I have played football for many years. I said at the beginning it is a very tricky season for us. We just need time to adapt and know each other’s games and we will be fine.’

He is right. But for all the noise about the new boys, it is clear Salah is still the main man around here.

Anfield arises to support Slot

Something just felt different. Even at the end of the pre-match warm-ups, Anfield felt louder and more on side, with Virgil van Dijk geeing up those in the Kop. Clearly he wanted them to be louder and more supportive.

They duly obliged. The crowd were right behind Liverpool from the first minute and they seemed to feel a sense of purpose as the 12th man, booing every Aston Villa touch and going through their catalogue of chants.

It has been a bruising month for the Reds but this was proof that most of the negativity and vitriol is confined to online forums and not real-life, match-going supporters. And importantly, Slot heard every word.

Asked how much it meant to hear them singing his name, Slot said: ‘A lot, especially because it happened at 0-0. It was when we were in a difficult situation as a club and team, it is also difficult for me.

‘The support I got is something that makes this club special. They help you when things are difficult.’

Things have been difficult but, with the fans on side like this, Liverpool can start looking upwards again.

Full backs look much better

Robertson must be the first-choice left back right now.

It feels harsh to criticise Milos Kerkez on a night he did not play but the Hungarian full back has been poor this season. Robertson, on the other hand, put in his best display of the season on his first league start.

He attacked with menace, rolling back the years with some darting runs forward, and defended well. The whole defensive unit looked more assured with vice-captain and uber-experienced Robertson.

On the other side, Conor Bradley also put in his best display this term with a balanced night. Most pleasing for Slot would be his link-up with Salah on the right flank, especially given the Northern Irishman has been criticised for this aspect of his game.

Trent Alexander-Arnold returns to Anfield on Tuesday with Real Madrid – he is unlikely to play given a lack of fitness – and although he is being missed at times, this was a step in the right direction from Bradley.

Are peak Liverpool back?

No, not yet. We will not make sweeping statements like that based on one performance but it was a huge improvement and the next two fixtures, Real Madrid then Manchester City, suddenly look much less daunting.

There is a constant desire to ask what results mean for the bigger picture and the title race. Let us not do that here but simply say if Liverpool play like this every week, they are certainly not out of any title tilt.

The problem is that, the last time they won a game – a 5-1 win in Frankfurt – they followed it up with a loss at Brentford. The key now is to back this up.