Having won four Premier League games in a row, Aston Villa traveled to Anfield on Saturday, to face 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, lifting them back into the top four and restoring belief after a turbulent month.
Team News and Tactical Setups
Arne Slot arranged Liverpool in a 4-3-3: Giorgi Mamardashvili in goal; Conor Bradley, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk, and Andy Robertson in defence; Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield; Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Hugo Ekitike leading the attack.
Injuries kept Alisson Becker, Alexander Isak, Curtis Jones, Jeremie Frimpong, and Giovanni Leoni out.
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 at the back; Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara shielding midfield; John McGinn, Morgan Rogers, and Evann Guessand supporting striker Ollie Watkins.
Villa missed Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendía, and Andrés García through injury.
Match Recap: From Anxiety to Authority
The opening 20 minutes were a rollercoaster for Liverpool. Villa nearly silenced Anfield twice: first in the 5th minute, when Morgan Rogers struck the post after a slick one-two with Watkins, and again in the 18th, when Matty Cash’s deflected cross clipped the bar before Mamardashvili clawed it away. Rogers then forced a diving save with a curling effort from distance, underlining Villa’s early dominance.
Liverpool gradually settled. Dominik Szoboszlai robbed Kamara in midfield and raced through on goal in the 23rd minute, only to shoot straight at Martínez. The Argentine denied Szoboszlai again from a free-kick in the 32nd, keeping the game level.
But just as Villa looked set to reach halftime unscathed, disaster struck: Martínez’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.
The second half saw Liverpool assert control. In the 58th minute, Szoboszlai surged forward and teed up Ryan Gravenberch, whose shot took a wicked deflection and wrong-footed Martínez for 2–0.
Villa’s hopes faded further when Tyrone Mings limped off injured after all substitutions had been made, leaving Emery’s side to finish with ten men. Interestingly enough, Slot made just one change in the game – Florian Wirtz replaced Ekitike after 77 minutes.
Liverpool managed the closing stages professionally, with Mamardashvili denying late efforts from Ross Barkley and Jadon Sancho to preserve a first clean sheet in 11 matches.
Talking Points
Salah’s Historic Milestone
Mohamed Salah’s opportunistic strike was more than a goal—it was a landmark. His 250th for Liverpool cements his status among the club’s all-time greats. Beyond the numbers, Salah’s pressing and hold-up play were vital in relieving pressure during Villa’s early surge.
Gravenberch’s Return to Form
After an injury layoff, Ryan Gravenberch delivered a dynamic midfield display capped by his deflected goal. His energy and willingness to shoot added a dimension Liverpool sorely missed during their slump.
Villa’s Missed Chances
Unai Emery’s side will rue their profligacy. Two strikes against the woodwork and Rogers’ dazzling solo run could have flipped the narrative. Their four-game winning streak ends, but Villa showed enough quality to remain a threat in the top-half battle.
Slot’s Tactical Reset
Arne Slot abandoned recent experiments and returned to basics: compact shape, aggressive pressing, and quick transitions. The result was Liverpool’s most disciplined performance in weeks—a timely response ahead of a brutal fixture list.
The Road Ahead: Table, Fixtures, and Implications
Liverpool’s hard-fought victory propels them back into the top four, sitting third on 18 points, seven adrift of leaders Arsenal but within striking distance of Manchester City. For Aston Villa, the defeat halts their momentum, leaving them 11th with 15 points in a congested mid-table where every slip can prove costly.
The timing of this win could be pivotal for Arne Slot. Next up is a Champions League showdown with Real Madrid (Nov 4), followed by a daunting league trip to Manchester City (Nov 9) and a home clash against Nottingham Forest (Nov 22). These fixtures will test whether Liverpool’s renewed confidence can withstand Europe’s elite and domestic heavyweights.
Villa, meanwhile, turn their attention to a Europa League tie against Maccabi Tel Aviv (Nov 6) before hosting Bournemouth (Nov 9) and visiting Leeds United (Nov 23). Emery’s side must rediscover their cutting edge quickly to stay in touch with the top six.
This wasn’t Liverpool at their most flamboyant, but it was a performance of grit and clarity—a much-needed reset after weeks of turmoil. For Villa, the missed chances and late injury woes underline the fine margins at this level. With a brutal November ahead, both clubs face defining tests that could shape their seasons.
