Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa: Salah and Núñez Secure the Points

Liverpool kept their momentum going with a confident 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield. The Reds were sharp from the outset, looking to strike early and keep Villa on the back foot.

The breakthrough came in the 20th minute, sparked by a classic counter-attack. Mohamed Salah was racing through on goal when he was taken down by Leon Bailey, yet the ball landed kindly at Darwin Núñez’s feet. In one smooth motion, Núñez took a touch to get past Villa’s keeper and fired it into the net. Anfield erupted, and Liverpool showed just how dangerous they are on the break.

Only five minutes later, Liverpool faced an unfortunate setback. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who had been directing play from the right flank, was forced to exit with an injury. Conor Bradley came on in his place and, despite the sudden introduction, delivered a solid defensive performance, showing he was more than ready to rise to the challenge.

Villa kept pushing and had a few set-piece opportunities, but Liverpool’s defense was a fortress. Ibrahima Konaté and Virgil van Dijk stood firm, winning crucial aerial duels and shutting down every attempt from Villa’s forwards. When Villa did get a shot on target, Caoimhín Kelleher, standing in for Alisson, was there with quick reflexes, keeping the scoreline intact.

Liverpool’s second goal arrived in the 84th minute, a moment of brilliance from Salah after a lapse from Villa’s defense. A poor pass near the halfway line gifted Salah a clear path to goal. With Villa’s defenders out of position, he drove into the box, and although Cody Gakpo and Luis Díaz were ready for a pass across the box, Salah chose to go solo. He slotted it coolly past Emiliano Martínez at the near post, sealing the win and sending Anfield into celebration once more.

It was a performance that highlighted both Liverpool’s attacking threat and their defensive resilience. The squad’s depth and adaptability were clear, with Bradley stepping up and Kelleher making critical saves. A hard-fought but well-earned three points for the Reds!