Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the action as Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield
There was no happy homecoming for Steven Gerrard, no “celebrating like a crazy devil,” no narratives feeding into future ambitions. The man he termed “100 per cent the best player in the world now” saw to that, firing in a low, hard penalty to further Liverpool’s title fight.
Mohamed Salah’s direct goal contribution ticked over to 14 consecutive league games, his 67th-minute winner deflating an Aston Villa side that departed without a shot on target.
The task was not to make it easy for Liverpool, but Gerrard’s men didn’t figure it would be this hard to conjure threat of their own.
The scoreline belied a story of enterprise versus total obstruction, with substitute Diogo Jota missing a glorious chance late on to make that more clear.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
30 mins: Andy Robertson is tormenting Matty Cash and Marvelous Nakamba. He’s taken the ball into the box two or three times now and could have had a couple of penalties but none of the decisions have gone Liverpool’s way.
At the other end the ball comes up to Young on the inside left. He dinks the ball into the box and heads it over Alisson who’s comes flying off his line. From the byline Young tries to cross the ball to Watkins for a tap in but the pass is intercepted and Liverpool manage to work it clear.
GOAL! Chelsea 0 - 1 Leeds ⚽️
28 mins: Over at Stamford Bridge Leeds have taken the lead after Daniel James won a penalty and Raphinha converted. Chelsea can’t afford to drop points if they want to stay in the title race so they’ve got work to do.
GOAL! Arsenal 2 - 0 Southampton ⚽️
27 mins: Arsenal have doubled their lead at the Emirates. Tomiyasu swings a cross deep into the box where Tierney has a volley blocked. The ball loops into the air and he heads it across the six-yard box where Martin Odegaard taps it in.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
26 mins: Watkins slides into a tackle on Fabinho from behind and goes through the Liverpool midfielder to win the ball. Liverpool are awarded a free kick and Watkins goes in the book.
Alexander-Arnold floats the set piece into the penalty area but Young is first to the ball and heads it away.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
24 mins: Back at Anfield Aston Villa are finding their feet in midfield. Ramsey wins a free kick in the middle of the pitch after drawing a foul from Henderson. It’s worked out to Ashley Young on the right side and he wins a throw in inside of Liverpool’s final third.
The ball comes to John McGinn who breaks into space in the wide area and sends a sharp cross low into the box but Joel Matip deals with it for Liverpool.
GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 Southampton ⚽️
21 mins: Arsenal have taken the lead at the Emirates. Bukayo Saka drops a shoulder to sprint away from Jan Bednarek and carry the into the box he picks out Alexandre Lacazette who curls a fine finish into the top corner! It’s the first Premier League goal of the afternoon. How many more will we get?
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
18 mins: Save! Alexander-Arnold swings another pinpoint cross in from the right tip of the box and picks out Robertson at the back post. He fires a headed effort at goal, there’s a deflection off Cash but Emiliano Martinez leaps low to his right and keeps the effort out with a solid right hand.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
15 mins: Virgil van Dijk goes in the book for Liverpool. Targett flicks a fine pass up the pitch to Ollie Watkins who does brilliantly to bring it down and shift the ball over to the left of the box. Van Dijk goes with him but can’t win the ball and eventually brings down the Villa striker.
Ezri Konsa takes the resultant free kick and drills it straight into the side netting of Alisson’s goal.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
12 mins: Close! Liverpool slickly work the ball over the pitch and out to Andy Robertson on the left wing. He pulls the ball back to the front of the box where Mo Salah lets the ball run to Alexander-Arnold. The defender runs onto the ball and blasts it at goal only to be denied by Matt Targett blocking the shot out for a corner.
Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa
9 mins: Penalty shout for Liverpool!
Salah receives the ball on the right side and weaves his way to the corner of the box before flicking a pass over to Mane. He brings the ball under control and plays a one-two with Salah to get into the middle of the box. Matty Cash gets a hand to Mane who flings himself to the floor and wants a penalty.
The referee has a good view of the incident but lets play continue and VAR doesn’t overturn the decision.
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