Liverpool vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today

Follow all the action as Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield

'Gerrard will definitely manage Liverpool' Klopp on Stevie's return 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 vs Aston Villa

• LIV XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Fabinho, Henderson, Thiago; Salah, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane
• AVL XI: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, Luiz; J Ramsey, Watkins, A Young
• 67’ - Salah wins and scores a penalty after Mings’ foul
• Liverpool 1-0 Aston Villa: Match report

[11 December 2021 15:58 · Michael Jones]

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[11 December 2021 15:55 · Michael Jones]

Premier League scores

Just the three Premier League games taking place right now and here are the half-time scores:

Arsenal 2 - 0 Southampton

Chelsea 1 - 1 Leeds

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

Lots of goals in London and none at all in Merseyside.

[11 December 2021 15:52 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

Nothing to separate the teams after 45 minutes.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

[11 December 2021 15:49 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

45+2 mins: After a couple of added minutes to end the first half the teams head into the break on level terms. No goals at Anfield and Steven Gerrard will think that’s half a job done for his Aston Villa team.

[11 December 2021 15:46 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

44 mins Chance! It’s a lovely run from Mo Salah who brings the ball under control on the right wing before cutting into the box and weaving around Tyrone Mings. He rolls the ball onto his left foot and drills a low shot towards the near post but Martinez has it covered and makes a good low save to keep it out.

[11 December 2021 15:43 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Chelsea 1 - 1 Leeds ⚽️

42 mins: Chelsea are back in the game and Mason Mount has the equaliser for the Blues!

[11 December 2021 15:42 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

41 mins: Villa are defending exceptionally well. John McGinn gets back to stop a cross from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a sliding challenge.

[11 December 2021 15:40 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

39 mins: Alexander-Arnold swings Liverpool’s seventh corner of the match into the box. There’s a scramble in the middle and the ball almost drops for Mane but Young hoofs it down the pitch as hard as he can.

[11 December 2021 15:38 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

36 mins: Van Dijk pings a cross-field pass out to Alexander-Arnold on the right wing. He brings the ball down and knocks it inside to Salah who’s forced deeper by the combined forces of Matt Targett and Douglas Luiz. Good defending from Villa.

[11 December 2021 15:37 · Michael Jones]

Liverpool 0 - 0 Aston Villa

33 mins: We’ve got a good game going on here. Jurgen Klopp seems like a frustrated man in the dugouts and Steven Gerrard will be happy with what he’s seeing.

Another cross from Alexander-Arnold is blocked behind by Douglas Luiz sprinting back into Villa’s box.