Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0, this Saturday (1st), in the Premier League, provisionally moving up to third place in the table — while Mohamed Salah became the third player in the Reds’ history to score 250 goals.
Under intense pressure — and six in the last seven games in all competitions — Arne Slot’s team reduced the gap to leaders Arsenal to seven points, now on 18.
“I think everyone who was here today felt the importance of the game, both the players and the fans,” Slot told TNT Sports. “We showed character and won the match.”
who had been criticized for his slow start to the season, scored in first-half stoppage time, capitalizing on a big mistake by Villa goalkeeper Emi Martínez, who delivered the ball to the feet of the Liverpool star.
Salah finished first time, to the relief of the eager Anfield crowd, and joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players to score 250 goals for the Merseyside club.
Ryan Gravenberch, in his first game after missing three games with an ankle injury, extended the home team’s lead in the 13th minute of the second half, when he shot from the edge of the area — the shot deflected off Pau Torres and deceived Martínez.
Slot celebrated by punching the air as fans chanted for the coach.
The crowd chanted “Champions! Champions!” when the final whistle sounded, ending what was the longest ongoing losing streak in the league.
“It’s very important,” Salah said of the victory. “We’ve had some defeats in the Premier League and Champions League. I’m happy we’re back on the right track now — it’s a big boost ahead of some important games.”
Difficult sequence ahead
The victory comes ahead of a challenging run, with them facing the Spanish giants in the Champions League on Tuesday and then Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on November 9.
Slot captain Virgil van Dijk admitted it was not easy to ignore criticism during the team’s poor run of form.
“We didn’t go on the field to lose, we didn’t play to disappoint or leave the fans disappointed,” he said. “We want to give our all and win the matches.
“There are no guarantees — you play in the Premier League, the highest level, the biggest league in the world, and it’s difficult to stay calm — but you have to.”
Villa’s defeat ended a four-game winning streak and saw them drop to 11th place.
“We might be a little disappointed but we played the game as planned,” said Villa manager Unai Emery. “(Liverpool) were playing at home and needed to react (after a series of defeats) — and they reacted.”
