Liverpool 2-0 Aston Villa PLAYER RATINGS: Which defender is making the case to be considered the best this season? Who had a point to prove? And what did Mo Salah score after another vintage display

Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to five points after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield. 

The home support were buoyed by the news of Manchester City‘s defeat prior to kick-off and passionately urged on their side in a dominant first 20 minutes. 

Their fast start yielded the first goal of the game, which came when Darwin Nunez kept his cool and fired into the net after rounding Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Unai Emery‘s side had their chances to spoil the night but were made to pay for their profligacy when Mohamed Salah netted his 10th goal of the season to secure the points. 

Mail Sport’s LEWIS STEELE was on hand at Anfield to see which players shone and who shrunk under the lights. 

LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): 

Caoimhin Kelleher – 8

Do not underestimate his impact in the last few weeks. The Irishman will not be top of anyone’s list for player of the month but he has made match-defining saves in each, including two in a minute in the first half to deny Onana and Carlos from point-blank range.

Trent Alexander-Arnold – 6

Some  lovely sprayed passes on the diagonal, some loose ones. Alexander-Arnold was getting on the ball a lot but his night was cut short early with what looked like a right hamstring injury, and he was substituted.

Ibrahima Konate – 8

Making a case to be defender of the season. Some will say ‘he’s not even the best at Liverpool’ but it says a lot that Konate is running Van Dijk close. Another commanding display here from an emerging fans’ favourite.

Virgil van Dijk – 8

His  level is so high that we sometimes forget to praise Van Dijk’s towering performances at the back for Liverpool. But the captain has been imperious this season and was excellent again here, the highlight coming on the ball as he started the move for the Reds’ opener.

Andy Robertson – 7

Had a point to prove after Kostas Tsimikas started the last two games at left back ahead of him. And Robertson took that chance here with a decent performance.

Ryan Gravenberch – 7

Silky touches on the ball as ever and is one of the best players in the league at receiving possession on the half-turn and creating a moment of danger.

Alexis Mac Allister – 6.5

Got forward more than usual and caused lots of problems for Villa’s midfield. Put in a good shift going the other way, too.

Mohamed Salah – 8.5 MOTM

Having  an elite season, especially in a creative sense. He made the first goal and then set Nunez through again minutes later. He also put the ball on a plate for, you guessed it, Nunez but the Uruguayan was an inch or two too small. Scored the second with aplomb.

Curtis Jones – 6

Put in two effervescent performances against Brighton and Bayer Leverkusen and, while Jones did not contribute as much in an attacking sense here, he put in some hard yards defensively.

Luis Diaz – 6.5

Quiet night on the left for Diaz after his hat-trick on Tuesday as a No 9. Moved to that central position for the last half hour and was much more effective.

Darwin Nunez – 7.5

A goal and several missed chances. He will take that. Although Nunez will feel he could have been leaving Anfield with the matchball here. The Uruguayan shanked a one-versus-one high and wide and squandered several other opportunities.

Substitutes:

Conor Bradley (for Alexander-Arnold, 25min) – 7

Dominik Szoboszlai (for Jones, 65) – 6

Cody Gakpo (for Nunez, 65) – 6

Wataru Endo (for Mac Allister, 86)

Not used: Vitek Jaros, Joe Gomez, Tyler Morton, Jarell Quansah, Kostas Tsimikas.

Manager: Arne Slot – 7

Liverpool were not at their best but still created bags of chances and looked solid at the back.

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1)

Emi Martinez – 6.5

Could do little about Liverpool’s opener and nearly got there in fact. Made several regulation stops thereafter and irked the home crowd with time-wasting.

Ezri Konsa – 6

Kept Diaz quiet for the whole evening and defended well at right back. Did not offer anything going forward, though.

Diego Carlos – 5

Nearly scored at the end of the first time as he headed goalwards but was thwarted by Kelleher. A nightmare for Liverpool’s second, though, failing to clear his lines and allowing Salah to run in on goal.

Pau Torres – 5

Mopped up well but had his hands full against Nunez who caused problems for the whole Villa back-line.

Lucas Digne – 6

A busy evening to say the least. It was his poor corners that led to two grand openings for Liverpool at the other end – one leading to a goal – but also his set-pieces that created Villa’s best two chances. A tough night up against Salah, too.

Amadou Onana – 6

Had a big chance to score in the first half but, like Carlos, his header was stopped by Kelleher. Made some good, driving runs through midfield but did not see enough of the ball.

Youri Tielemans – 6.5 (Booked)

Was Villa’s brightest spark in midfield and looked to make things happen, popping up in dangerous pockets of space. His influence waned somewhat after the break, though.

Leon Bailey – 5

Lucky  not to be sent off in the first half when he tugged down Salah as the last defender back. Liverpool scored from the attack which saved Bailey’s skin. Ineffective going forward.

Morgan Rogers – 5 (Booked)

Shanked a glorious chance with the first attack of the second half. As he ran through on Kelleher’s goal, he perhaps was caught in two minds – but his shot went wide.

Jacob Ramsey – 6

As a player who has been plagued with injuries in the last years, it was a shame to see him limp off at the end of the first half. Had some nice touches before that.

Ollie Watkins – 5

Wanted a penalty in the first half when he was felled by Konate but the referee booked Watkins for an alleged dive. Maybe not a foul but it certainly was not simulation. Struggled to impact the game.

Substitutes:

John McGinn (for Ramsey, 45+1) – 5

Jhon Duran (for Watkins, 65) – 5

Jaden Philogene (for Bailey, 65) – 5

Ian Maatsen (for Digne, 74) – 5

Boubacar Kamara (for Onana, 74) – 5 (Booked)

Not used: Robin Olsen, Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia, Lamare Bogarde.

Manager: Unai Emery – 6

His team looked more solid at the back than last week’s hammering at Tottenham but did not create enough to test Liverpool from open play at the other end.

Referee: David Coote – 5

Missed a blatant foul and sending-off offence in the build-up to Liverpool’s opener – regardless of whether VAR could have overruled it, it was baffling that he did not see it. Bizarre to penalise Watkins for a dive in the penalty area, too.