Misery is over – Reds end dreadful streak thanks to Salah and Gravenberch

At last, a day has come when Liverpool fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief. After a dreadful run of four straight defeats, the reigning champions have finally secured three points. True, it wasn’t a particularly impressive performance, but at this stage and in their current form, three points are pure gold for Arne Slot’s side.

The visitors started brightly and nearly took an early lead in the 5th minute, when Morgan Rogers unleashed a brilliant shot from the edge of the box, only to see it crash off the post. Liverpool’s first real effort came in the 15th minute, as Dominik Szoboszlai tried his luck from distance, but his low strike went just wide.

Villa continued to threaten, and in the 19th minute, Matty Cash’s shot deflected off Virgil van Dijk, forcing Giorgi Mamardashvili into a stunning save that was helped by the crossbar. Just two minutes later, Rogers tested the Georgian keeper again with a powerful long-range attempt, but Mamardashvili was once more up to the task.

Liverpool’s best chance of the half fell to Szoboszlai in the 23rd minute, after a defensive mix-up between Torres and Kamara. The Hungarian intercepted the ball and went one-on-one with Emiliano Martínez, but his weak finish let Villa off the hook. Szoboszlai tried again from a free-kick in the 33rd minute, but Martinez made a solid save.

Villa had one more opportunity in the 41st minute when Cash fired from a set-piece routine, though his effort missed the target.

In the 43rd minute, Hugo Ekitike thought he had given Liverpool the lead after finishing clinically past Martínez, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside.

Then, in first-half stoppage time, came the breakthrough — and it was self-inflicted from Villa. A terrible back pass to Martinez left the goalkeeper in trouble, his clearance went straight to Mohamed Salah, and the Egyptian coolly slotted home to make it 1–0 Liverpool heading into the break. The goal is HERE!

The second half at Anfield didn’t bring too many chances, as Liverpool mostly controlled the tempo after securing their lead.

In the 58th minute, Alexis Mac Allister played a clever pass to Ryan Gravenberch, who took a quick shot that deflected off a defender and completely wrong-footed Emiliano Martínez — 2-0 for the Reds. The goal is HERE!

Aston Villa tried to respond through Ross Barkley in the 63rd minute, but his weak effort from the edge of the box went straight into Giorgi Mamardashvili’s hands.

The visitors had perhaps their best chance in the 70th minute, when Donyell Malen curled a shot from distance that missed the right post by inches.

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 10

Saturday

Brighton - Leeds 3-0 (1-0)

/Welbeck 11, Gomez 64, 70/

Burnley - Arsenal 0-2 (0-2)

/Gyokeres 14, Rice 35/

Crystal Palace - Brentford 2-0 (1-0)

/Mateta 30, Collins 51 (og)/

Fulham - Wolverhampton 3-0 (1-0)

/Sessegnon 9, Wilson 62, Mosquera 75 (og)/

Nottingham Forest - Manchester United 2-2 (0-1)

/Gibbs-White 48, Savona 50 - Casemiro 34, Diallo 81/

Tottenham - Chelsea 0-1 (0-1)

/Pedro 34/

Liverpool - Aston Villa 2-0 (1-0)

/Salah 45+1, Gravenberch 58/

Sunday

17.00: (5.25) West Ham (4.15) Newcastle (1.65)

19.30: (1.53) Manchester City (4.80) Bournemouth (5.80)

Monday

23.00: (2.85) Sunderland (3.20) Everton (2.75)

***odds are subject to change***