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17 hours ago
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Crisis club Liverpool find themselves level on points with second-placed Bournemouth after picking up their first Premier League points since 20 September. Their recovery appears simple in that context and, thanks in no small part to the Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, it was the balm that Arne Slot wished for after the worst run of his Anfield reign. He knows it must be only a starting point.
Liverpool were deserving victors in the league for the first time since beating Everton in the Merseyside derby, as Villa proved the perfect guests. A terrible mistake by Martínez presented Mohamed Salah with his 250th Liverpool goal before more poor Villa defending enabled Ryan Gravenberch to double the hosts’ advantage early in the second half. Slot’s name reverberated from the Kop as Liverpool banished the anxiety of six defeats in the previous seven games. It was also sung in the 24th minute with the game goalless and delicately balanced. The support was there for Liverpool’s head coach long before the victory.
Slot reverted as close as he could to last season’s title-winning team with Andy Robertson replacing the struggling Milos Kerkez and Gravenberch partnering Alexis Mac Allister in midfield having recovered from an ankle injury. The potential £116m signing Florian Wirtz was again on the bench against dangerous Premier League opponents.
One incontrovertible factor in Liverpool’s dramatic slump has been their habit of conceding first and having to then take more risks chasing the game. It almost happened for an eighth game in succession when Morgan Rogers split the home defence with a superb ball into Ollie Watkins. The Villa striker returned possession to his England colleague and he stepped across Conor Bradley to curl a shot from the edge of the area towards the far corner. Giorgi Mamardashvili was well beaten in the Liverpool goal but Rogers’ effort struck the far post and rebounded clear.
It was a reprieve that Slot’s side desperately needed with only five minutes on the clock and confidence understandably low. It was also the cue for a highly entertaining, flowing contest. Both teams threatened repeatedly. Liverpool performed with far more aggression and urgency than of late, with Dominik Szoboszlai a marauding presence once again and Salah looking much sharper as he tormented Lucas Digne. Villa looked dangerous every time they broke the Liverpool press. They took some almighty risks to do so, however, and were close to handing the champions the breakthrough twice before Martínez landed the visitors in it in first-half stoppage time.
The Villa goalkeeper erred earlier in the game when dragging a poor clearance straight to Robertson. He escaped on that occasion when the recalled left-back’s shot looped off Pau Torres and landed in his arms. Next up with a gift was Boubacar Kamara, who put Torres in trouble with a needless return pass that Szoboszlai intercepted with ease. The Liverpool midfielder found himself with only Martínez to beat but stroked a tame shot straight at him. It was a rare blemish on the Hungary captain’s night.
Villa struck the woodwork a second time when Matty Cash advanced from right-back and made an ambitious attempt for Mamardashvili’s top corner. His shot took a slight deflection off the thigh of Virgil van Dijk before the Georgia international superbly tipped it on to the bar. The home keeper also saved from Rogers when Villa’s patient approach again found space behind the Liverpool midfield.
Hugo Ekitiké had been anonymous at the head of Liverpool’s attack but, like all good strikers, made his first meaningful contribution count when heading Szoboszlai’s beautiful cross inside Martínez’s bottom corner. Liverpool celebrations, and attached sense of relief, were cut short, however, when the video assistant referee disallowed the header for a clear offside against the Frenchman. Liverpool celebrations, and attached sense of relief, flooded back thanks to Martínez moments later.
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The World Cup winner was far too casual and careless when attempting to play a simple pass back to Torres inside the Villa area. A quite dreadful ball went straight to Salah instead. The much-scrutinised striker made light work of his second goal in two games, sliding the ball around Torres and into an unguarded Villa net. The reward for Salah’s improved display was his 250th goal in a Liverpool shirt.
To Unai Emery’s despair and Slot’s unbridled joy, the Villa defence were not done with dangerous over-elaboration and presenting Liverpool with opportunity. Just before the hour Martínez squared another risky pass to Torres who, under pressure, swiped a clearance towards Van Dijk. Liverpool worked the ball to Gravenberch in space and the influential midfielder let fly from 20 yards with a shot that took a touch off both Ezri Konsa and Torres before beating the wrongfooted Villa keeper.
Slot’s reaction, indeed the reaction of the Liverpool team and support, encapsulated the release of pressure. Now on to Real Madrid and Manchester City.
