Liverpool player ratings, winners and losers vs Aston Villa as Gravenberch and Szoboszlai star

17 hours ago 5

Liverpool returned to winning ways on Saturday as it beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield, in comfortably the best Premier League performance of the season.

The visitors offered an early threat and rallied late on, but from the 20-minute mark it was Liverpool who largely dominated. After missing several presentable scoring opportunities in the first half, the opening goal couldn't have been simpler, as Emiliano Martinez's loose pass out from defense was misplaced and landed at the feet of Mohamed Salah, who coolly tapped in with his right foot.

Ryan Gravenberch, returning after a recent injury, all but sealed the three points when he made it 2-0 in the 58th minute, as he sprung from midfield and saw his deflected shot squirm into the back of the net.

Winners

Everyone of a Red persuasion, really This was a night when all the big guns were back at it: Salah, Gravenberch, Dominik Szobszlai and Alexis Mac Allister. But for Arne Slot, after the criticism that followed his midweek team selection, he got his line-up against Villa absolutely perfect.

Losers

Emiliano Martinez after his catastrophic error in first-half injury-time. From a Liverpool perspective, perhaps Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz may have internally winced at the fluidity of the Liverpool side without their involvement.

Player ratings

Giorgi Mamardashvili (6). Made a brilliant save after 18 minutes to push Matty Cash's effort onto the post.

Conor Bradley (7). Solid at right-back and put in perhaps his best display of the season so far. Bradley was often an out-ball in possession and timed his runs well into the opposition half.

Ibrahima Konate (7). Composed at center-back and, other than being tackled inside the Liverpool box early on, made few errors.

Virgil van Dijk (7). Made several important defensive contributions, including an impressive tackle to dispossess Evann Guessand on the byline.

Andy Robertson (7). Contributed to a more robust and defensively solid performance.

Ryan Gravenberch (8). His return to the side was a welcome relief, and the midfielder sat in front of the back four, providing more protection than in recent weeks. But his assert runs forward also proved crucial as Liverpool's no.38 netted the Reds' second at an important time of the game.

Alexis Mac Allsiter (7). Helped Liverpool maintain control for long spells and was unfortunate to see a shot late in the first half blocked.

Mohamed Salah (8). Netted his 250th Liverpool goal, but few have been as simple as the right-footed finish from Emiliano Martinez's weak pass out. Salah looked sharper than in recent weeks, combined well with Bradley down the right flank and gave Lucas Digne a torrid night at Anfield.

Dominik Szoboszlai (8). Popped up everywhere in another ceaseless display from midfield. It was no coincidence that Szoboszlai's increased presence on the ball resulted in Liverpool having more control after the 20-minute mark. He did waste a clear-cut scoring opportunity after 24 minutes when the Hungarian shot straight at Martinez when presented with a one-on-one chance. His excellent ball was headed home by Hugo Ekitike, only for it to be ruled out for offside.

Cody Gakpo (7). Provided several dangerous runs down the left wing and caused Cash repeated issues. Gakpo delivered a number of in-swinging crosses, but fluffed his one scoring opportunity.

Hugo Ekitike (6). Powered in a brilliant header at the end of the first period, but replays showed he was wandered offside. Overall, the striker was one of Liverpool's quieter players, despite the dominant display.