After winning four Premier League games in a row, Aston Villa traveled to Anfield on Saturday to take on Liverpool, who had lost four in a row.
Goals from Mohamed Salah (45+1′) and Ryan Gravenberch (58′) secured the Reds’ first league victory since September 20, putting them back in the top four and restoring faith after a turbulent month.
Team news and tactical setups
Arne Slot set up Liverpool in a 4-3-3: Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson in defense; Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield; Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Hugo Ekitike lead the attack.
Injuries kept out Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak, Curtis Jones, Jeremie Frimpong and Giovanni Leoni.
Aston Villa, under Unai Emery, opted for a 4-2-3-1: Emiliano Martínez in goal; Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne in the back; Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara protect the midfield; John McGinn, Morgan Rogers and Evann Guessand support forward Ollie Watkins.
Villa missed Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendía and Andrés García due to injury.
Match summary: from anxiety to authority
The first 20 minutes were a rollercoaster for Liverpool. Villa almost silenced Anfield twice: first in the 5th minute, when Morgan Rogers hit the post after a clever one-two with Watkins, and again in the 18th, when Matty Cash’s deflected cross hit the crossbar before Mamardashvili parried it away. Rogers then forced a diving save with a curling shot from distance, underlining Villa’s early dominance.
Liverpool was establishing itself little by little. Dominik Szoboszlai robbed Kamara in midfield and raced towards goal in the 23rd minute, only to shoot straight at Martínez. The Argentine again denied Szoboszlai a free kick in the 32nd, keeping the game tied.
But just when Villa looked set to make it to the break unscathed, disaster struck: Martinez’s misplaced pass fell straight to Mohamed Salah, who coolly slotted into an empty net for his 250th Liverpool goal, joining Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in the club’s history books.
In the second half Liverpool took control. In the 58th minute, Szoboszlai stepped up and gave the ball to Ryan Gravenberch, whose shot deflected wickedly past Martinez with the wrong foot to make it 2-0.
Villa’s hopes were further dashed when Tyrone Mings limped off injured after all the substitutions had been made, leaving Emery’s team to finish with ten men. Interestingly, Slot made only one change in the match: Florian Wirtz replaced Ekitike after 77 minutes.
Liverpool handled the final stages in professional fashion, with Mamardashvili denying late efforts from Ross Barkley and Jadon Sancho to keep a clean sheet for the first time in 11 games.
Talking points
Salah’s historic milestone
Mohamed Salah’s opportunistic strike was more than a goal: it was a milestone. His 250th for Liverpool cements his status among the club’s all-time greats. Beyond the numbers, Salah’s pressing and play were vital in relieving the pressure during Villa’s initial attack.
Gravenberch’s return to form
Coming off injury, Ryan Gravenberch put in a dynamic display in midfield capped by his deflected goal. His energy and willingness to shoot added a dimension that Liverpool sorely missed during their poor run of form.
Villa’s missed opportunities
Unai Emery’s team will regret their waste. Two hits on the stick and Rogers’ dazzling solo career could have changed the narrative. Their run of four consecutive wins ends, but Villa showed enough quality to remain a threat in the first-half battle.
Tactical Slot Reset
Arne Slot abandoned recent experiments and went back to basics: compact shape, aggressive pressing and fast transitions. The result was Liverpool’s most disciplined performance in weeks – a timely response ahead of a brutal schedule.
The Road Ahead: Table, Timetable, and Implications
Liverpool’s hard-fought victory propels them back into the top four, occupying third place with 18 points, seven behind leaders Arsenal, but within striking distance of Manchester City. For Aston Villa, the defeat halts their momentum, leaving them in 11th place with 15 points in a congested mid-table where every slip-up can prove costly.
The timing of this victory could be pivotal for Arne Slot. Next up is a Champions League showdown with Real Madrid (November 4), followed by a daunting league trip to Manchester City (November 9) and a home clash against Nottingham Forest (November 22). These matches will test whether Liverpool’s renewed confidence can hold its own against Europe’s elite and domestic heavyweights.
Meanwhile, Villa turns its attention to a Europa League tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv (November 6) before hosting Bournemouth (November 9) and visiting Leeds United (November 23). Emery’s team must quickly rediscover their cutting edge to stay in touch with the top six.
This was not Liverpool at their most extravagant, but it was a performance of determination and clarity – a much-needed reset after weeks of turmoil. For Villa, missed opportunities and late injury problems underline the fine margins at this level. With a brutal November ahead, both clubs face decisive tests that could mark their seasons.
