Anfield witnessed a massive sigh of relief on Saturday evening as Liverpool secured a crucial 2-0 victory over Aston Villa, ending a painful four-game losing run in the Premier League. The result was powered by a landmark goal from Mohamed Salah and a fortuitous strike from the returning Ryan Gravenberch.
The game began with high drama, as the vulnerable Reds nearly conceded first for an eighth consecutive match. Villa’s Morgan Rogers rattled the post just five minutes in, signaling a real threat from Unai Emery’s side, who were looking for a fifth straight league win. The visitors continued to press, hitting the woodwork again through Matty Cash, while Dominik Szoboszlai squandered a golden one-on-one opportunity for the hosts.
The deadlock was finally broken deep into first-half stoppage time, courtesy of a disastrous error from Emiliano Martínez. The Villa goalkeeper attempted a casual pass inside his own box, only to gift the ball directly to Salah, who coolly slotted home. The goal, Salah’s 250th for Liverpool, settled the anxious Anfield crowd and was a pivotal moment.
Liverpool capitalised on their momentum in the second half. On the 58th minute, Gravenberch, back in the side, unleashed a 20-yard effort that took a significant deflection off defender Pau Torres, wrong-footing Martínez completely and sealing the 2-0 scoreline.
Arne Slot’s side managed their first clean sheet in 11 games, a performance characterized by urgency and aggression. The three points lift the reigning champions to third place, providing a much-needed confidence boost ahead of a decisive week that includes a European clash against Real Madrid.
