Liverpool remain the measure of all things in the Premier League and extended their lead at the top of the table on Saturday evening: two counterattacks were enough for the dominant Reds to humiliate Aston Villa. ManCity are already panting in their wake.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot made two changes to his team after the convincing 4-0 win against Leverkusen: Robertson and Darwin replaced Tsimikas and Gakpo on the bench. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery made a larger rotation compared to the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bruges – Mings, whose huge blunder Emery had been unable to believe in during the week, was particularly noticeable on the bench.
In the fast-paced opening stages, Liverpool had the upper hand and visual advantages. But the lead came from a corner – the opponent’s. Van Dijk played a long ball, Salah was brought down by Bailey as the last man. But Darwin took advantage of the given advantage and made it 1-0 in the 20th minute. This allowed former Bayer Leverkusen player Bailey to remain on the pitch.
On the half-hour mark, there was almost an identical scene to the first goal, but after Villa’s corner, Darwin was not cold enough in the opposing penalty area seconds later – and, while unmarked, lifted the ball over (32′).
Villa barely got a foot on the ground offensively and needed the “power” of the set pieces: Within two minutes, LFC keeper Kelleher saved from close range against Onana and Diego Carlos (37′, 38′).
Szoboszlai initiates the decision
The second half started at a frantic pace, but neither Rogers, through on Kelleher, nor Darwin, heading from five yards out, could get the ball on target (46′, 48′).
As the game progressed and more substitutions were made, the game flattened out. Liverpool controlled, dominated and worked on the second goal without taking any risks. In the end, it was one of the many dangerous counterattacks that decided the game: substitute Szoboszlai played forward out of his own box, Diego Carlos headed Salah on fatally – and he was free at a crazy speed. The Egyptian was alone in front of Martinez and scored clinically to make the final score 2-0 (84′).
With 28 out of a possible 33 points and a goal difference of 21:6, Liverpool are comfortably leading the Premier League. They could even have five points if ManCity slip up again (1:2 against Brighton).
After the international break, the Reds are likely to follow suit – on November 24, they will play away against newly promoted Southampton, who slipped to the bottom of the table on Saturday. Aston Villa will host Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace on November 23.
