Liverpool have moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Aston Villa 2-0 to capitalise on Manchester City’s slip-up.
Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah scored in either half to bring up the Reds’ ninth top-flight win from their opening 11 games.
The hosts would have taken extra motivation into the match following City’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton earlier on Saturday.
Pep Guardiola‘s men have now lost four games in a row in all competitions to give Liverpool the advantage in the title race.
And Nunez and Salah have helped send Liverpool fans into dreamland heading into the November international break.
Nunez broke the deadlock in the 20th minute after rounding Emiliano Martinez before firing into the roof of the net.
Salah then doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 84th minute as Liverpool hit the Villans on the counter yet again.
For the Egyptian, he has now become the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to reach double figures in goals and assists with ten each, with the former Chelsea man scoring eight times and providing six assists in the Premier League.
Liverpool never looked in danger of surrendering their lead as they now hope fellow title rivals Arsenal drop points at Chelsea on Sunday.
But the Reds will be left sweating over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fitness after the defender went off injured in the first half.
And interim England boss Lee Carsley will also be keeping a close eye on the right-back following his 24th minute exit.
With no-one around him, the 26-year-old hit the deck with what appeared to be a muscle injury, resulting in medical attention.
4
Arne Slot instantly replaced Alexander-Arnold, who managed to walk off the pitch, with Conor Bradley as he refused to risk allowing his star man to return to action.
Questions marks will now remain as to whether Alexander-Arnold will withdraw from the England squad ahead of the upcoming Nations League matches with Greece and Ireland.
England take on Greece on Thursday as they look to avenge their 2-1 defeat suffered at the hands of the Euro 2004 winners last month.
They then face Ireland at Wembley on Sunday, November 17 where they hope victory will see them finish top of League B Group 2.
Alexander-Arnold has established himself as a vital player since Carsley took over the Three Lions on an interim basis.
The Liverpool academy graduate has started in all four matches under Carsley.
4
His first three games came in his preferred right-back position, before he was deployed on the opposite side of defence in the 3-1 win away at Finland.
And it’s not just England that will be worried that Alexander-Arnold has picked up a knock.
The player has been one of Liverpool’s top performing players this term – chipping in with two assists in 15 games.
With the Merseyside outfit to face Real Madrid and Man City almost immediately after the upcoming international break, fans will be hoping his knock isn’t serious.
4
