Well, Aston Villa attack the Kop for the first half…. The game sets out OK with Liverpool going forward, but the first chance of the game falls to Villa with Morgan Rogers positioning himself nicely in the box and letting rip with a thunderous shot that skips past the keeper and rebounds off the right post. Villa unlucky not to be ahead.
At 17 minutes Liverpool had a good attacking move with Cody Gakpo trying to lay on a header across the box for Hugo Ekitike to knock in but frustratingly the partner stiker can’t get onto it. It’s as close as we’ve come so far.
At the other end Matty Cash has a great attempt that Giorgi Mamardashvili superbly saves. It’s end to end stuff at Anfield!
It’s nice to see the Kop singing homage to Diogo Jota (RIP) at 20 minutes. If you think about it, Jota was certainly a character and it must be difficult for all the players that knew him to have had to face up to his tragic death. If anything did destrimentally affect morale ahead of this season, the terrible accident that killed Jota can’t have helped us at all. I’d be down in the dumps losing such a talismanic figure if he was my work comrade.
Dominik Szoboszlai breaks through and seemingly makes the wrong decision in taking a shot on as his effort is particularly weak. The better option would have been to flick it out to the right for Salah to take it on. a few minutes later and Szoboszlai is in a bit of trouble with the ref for pushing Amadou Onana into the side barriers. It’s all Szoboszlai at the moment. He takes a free kick just outside the box, on the left, and forces the keeper to make a dramatic save to keep his effort out. We are playing with slightly more passion today. Things may be looking up.
At 37 minutes Gakpo skies one when he should have perhaps had a decent chance. I still feel like he is a weak link and have not taken to him yet.
After just missing a good effort, with the Reds moving forward with purpose, a few moments later and Ekitike knocks a fantastic header in but unfortunately it’s been given as offside.
In injury time for the first half, the established World Cup winning goalkeeper for Villa, Emi Martinez, makes a massive error and gives the ball straight to an unmarked Mohamed Salah who just bangs it straight back past him into the net. 1-0 Liverpool.
John McGinn does a nasty foul on Konate and send him into the side barriers. It has been a hard fought game, really. Liverpool have been on the front foot throughout though and they deserve their one goal half-time lead.
In the second half, Liverpool keep the pressure on. Van Dijk manages to get himself booked which isn’t brilliant. Salah, in particular, is looking full of beans today and this is a great sight to behold.
Ryan Gravenberch makes his impact and, even if he had a bit of a lucky deflection, he shoots from just outside the box and gets a goal. The side certainly look a lot better with him back in the side. Now, you’d think we are comfortable, two goals to the good: but remember, this is Liverpool, so get ready to bite your nails down to the quick, we’ll probably be in for a rollercoaster ride to the end.
At 70 minutes, Aston Villa man, Donyell Malen , breaks forward and has a good shot on goal but it is kept out. The physical intensity of the game has carried on. While waiting for a corner, Amadou Onana has a push at Alexis Mac Allister, sending him to the ground inside the goal and and picks up a yellow card.
Ross Barkley gets ina. good position but sends it frustratingly over and wide. As a bluenose Evertonian I’m sure he’s keen on scoring against us!
The final whistle blows and Liverpool have a good home victory, 2-0 against Aston Villa.
When we have had to defend today – we have done it as a team and fought strongly and been disciplined with our positioning. The attack has looked totally revamped and hungry with Salah, I feel being the catalyst for that. He was certainly up for it today and was involved in many forward thrusts. Szoboszlai was given the man of the match and he did play well but I feel that the reintroduction of Gravenberch proved critical. The Redmen are back and a win is a win. Here’s to plenty more of them from now on! Real Madrid up next: that’ll be a frightener! Slot might have it sorted. #ynwa
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