Liverpool’s title hopes becoming more like reality as Anfield starts to believe

They are not singing about winning the league at Anfield yet, but Jurgen’s believers have rapidly become Arne’s disciples.
On what might prove one of the most consequential early rounds in the title fight, all the Kop was missing was the celebratory fist pumps from their manager.
Arne Slot looked like he might be tempted as he accepted the full-time acclaim for a thoroughbred performance to shrug aside Aston Villa, his side having seized the initiative in the latest championship tussle with Manchester City and Arsenal to complete the best seven days of a managerial era still in its infancy.
The supporters’ craving the Dutchman dashing towards them and choreographing another chorus were not successful this time, but it has taken just three months for him to prompt their serenades. Slot’s 15th win from 17 games continues a seamless Anfield transition putting one in mind of Kevin Keegan handing over his number seven jersey to Kenny Dalglish.
If this continues the more optimistic will be comparing Slot replacing Klopp to Joe Fagan following Bob Paisley, or Paisley following Bill Shankly.
We must pause before driving that bandwagon. He will need the biggest trophies for such a statement to have credibility, but for sure he has this stadium stirring again, as if the first few months were a ‘getting to know each other period’ in a blossoming romance.
The past ‘big week’ – as Slot acknowledged it has been – began in the second half against Brighton and Hove Albion, was followed up with the Champions League win over the Bundesliga champions and ended with victory over an accomplished Villa.
In the meantime, City and Arsenal have faltered, their problems swelling expectations in Liverpool as much as the form of Slot’s side.
“It was definitely a big week but every week is,” Slot said. “We play so many games against so many strong opponents. Hopefully we will have a lot of these weeks to come.
“We are trying to compete for the league, for the Champions League and for the cups as well. We also know it is a long season as well. The likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and City are capable of winning so many games as we did.”
City’s defeat at Brighton ensured Liverpool supporters who were already enthusiastic about their team’s form were bouncing into the stadium to urge their players to extend the gap to five points. The manner in which that opportunity was grasped made the argument Liverpool are indeed the real deal compelling.
Arsenal are now a more daunting 10 points adrift, travelling to Chelsea on Sunday under immense pressure to keep pace.
Where their rivals appear to be toiling under the strain of injuries, the rigours of going full throttle year-upon-year possibly wearing them down, the side which ran out of gas last April and May appears re-energised, partly because of the freshness of new coach, but also because of a potent mix of experience and youth.
Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk remain the figureheads.
If this is to be Salah’s final season at Anfield he may end it with every personal and team honour he craves.
The Egyptian’s customary Anfield goal on 84 minutes doubled the lead and guaranteed the points, his 10 goals and 10 assists this season reinforcing his position as currently the most all-round productive attacker in Europe.
Mohamed Salah makes it 2-0 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/RMexZlwosS
From the first whistle Salah was twisting and turning Lucas Digne to such an extent it looked like the French left back was ready to surrender at half-time, the defender limping to the players’ tunnel no doubt hoping for a sympathetic glance from his coach. Digne did well to make it to 74 minutes before being hooked. Even if Digne could escape Salah when leaving the pitch, he will surely revisit him in his nightmares.
Even Salah could have been overshadowed if his team-mate Darwin Nunez possessed a little more killer instinct.
Nunez served up one of his variety performances.
The Uruguayan’s 20th minute opening goal set Liverpool on their way, his quality finish a personal highlight. When Van Dijk’s pass sent Salah for what looked like a certain one-on-one with Emiliano Martinez, Leon Bailey shoved the African to the turf. While referee David Coote pondered a red card, Nunez pounced on what became a through ball and beat the Argentine keeper despite dribbling past him to make the angle tighter.
Darwin Nunez takes over from Mohamed Salah to give Liverpool the lead 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/dUjhv27lS3
Nunez should have repeated the trick when another Villa corner resulted in a more orthodox Salah pass to his strike partner. With Martinez to beat, Nunez skied it. He also headed wide from six yards after half-time.
Darwin Nunez comes desperately close to a second 🫣📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/a1FQKZyA76
Only when Salah dashed clear after another Liverpool counter-attack did the fulsome celebrations begin.
Villa’s high intensity Champions League and Premier League visibly took a toll, not least when Jacob Ramsey suffered a hamstring injury before half-time. Liverpool lost Trent Alexander-Arnold to what looked like a similar issue, although Slot felt it might not be serious.
Unai Emery could reference how Caoimhin Kelleher was needed to push away headers from Andre Onana and Diego Carlos, both demanding high class reflexes, while Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate was a contender for man-of-the-match, symptomatic that Villa might have had more joy against other opponents.
Caoimhin Kelleher is at the heart of the action 👀…and Alisson can’t take his eyes off it 🫣📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/pY6A63vSlL
But Liverpool remain a class above.
“Liverpool top of the league,” reverberated around the stadium. Even they didn’t believe the party would continue to keep bouncing along so soon post-Klopp.
That brings an end to our coverage of Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. Thanks for joining us! 
Speaking to TNT Sport, Liverpool boss Arne Slot said: “It wasn’t easy like most of our games have been now. Aston Villa were maybe not as aggressive as we thought they would be. One thing they are very good at is set-pieces. In general we had control over the game and scored from two counter-attacks which is maybe not what we would expect with all this possession.”
On Mo Salah: “I think he has the best numbers from all our attackers. All our attackers have great numbers but Mo stands out in that aspect.”
On scoring from two counter-attacks: “The set-pieces are for someone else. It is not the first time Liverpool score from breaks like that because we have players who are so fast.”
On Darwin Nunez’s goal: “I wondered what would happen if he wasn’t there because Mo was through on goal. Darwin was there and he scored and that’s good for him. With players around him who score so many goals it’s always good as a striker to get on the scoresheet.”
On the title race: “We are really happy that most of our players have stayed fit through this tough run. We have to wait and see how Trent is doing. If I look at the games that are ahead they are tough. It will be a tough season in general. Margins are small, we have a margin but it is small. Many challenges to come for us.”
Speaking to TNT Sports, Aston Villa boss Unai Emery said: “Liverpool dominated sometimes but they did not have a lot of clear chances to score. We did our work and we had the chances to score in the first half, in the second half, and we played more or less in the way I wanted.
“We have to keep improving, recover some players who have just come back after long injuries. Some players are not in the same performance level as last year but today they were a bit better.
“The league is tight, there are a lot of teams performing very well and we have to accept that we need to improve. We are under our level from last year a little bit but I am still confident.”
On getting back to last season’s level, he said: “This year a lot of players have come back from long injuries. We have to try to keep the same positive attitude and mentality and try to accept sometimes results that we have had this week happen.”
As Liverpool head into the third international break of the campaign, Arne Slot has far exceeded the expectations that many held for him when replacing Jurgen Klopp in the summer.
The Dutchman has won 15 of his 17 games in charge and has guided his side to the top of the Premier League table and top of the Champions League group phase table. 
Mohammed Salah is the first player in all competitions across Europe’s big five leagues this season to have registered double figures for both goals and assists having now registered ten of each. 
Darwin Nunez takes over from Mohamed Salah to give Liverpool the lead 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/dUjhv27lS3
On the title race: “If we are top of the league by five points then it means something. But we have to go step by step. If you asked me before the season started I would not say we were candidates but now it looks like [we are].”
On Mohammed Salah: “He is so good and so important for the team. He is a legend here. Happy for him and when you have him you know he is going to deliver and get the numbers.”
Discussing the significance of the win on TNT Sports, Alexis Mac Allister said: “Definitely a very big win against a very good team, I think we dominated the game, we played a very good game.
“The goals came in counter attacks but overall I think the team played a very good game so we are happy. We know that we are top of the league but there is still a lot of games so we take it step by step.”
On whether he knew for that his former club Brighton had beaten Manchester City, he said: “Yes I did know, we were watching the game. I’m happy for Brighton I have very special feeling for them, I’m really grateful.
“At the same time they are in a very good moment, they won against one of the best teams in the world right now so happy for them but we are not thinking about other teams, we are just focussing on ourselves.”
Most times a player has both scored and assisted in a Premier League game in the competition’s history:◎ 36 – Wayne Rooney◉ 35 – Mohamed SalahMo moves to within one of the record.👀 pic.twitter.com/1NA6njT1dM
Mohamed Salah makes it 2-0 🤩📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/RMexZlwosS
The full time whistle is blown and Arne Slot’s Liverpool go five points clear the top of the Premier having won nine of their opening 11 fixtures.
The hosts scored breakaway goals in either half with Salah setting up Nunez for the first before bagging one himself in the closing stages.
Diaz gives away a late foul on Philogene in a promising area down Villa’s right but Kelleher collects McGinn’s inswinging delivery. 
The roles reverse as Diaz is fouled by Philogene and that feels like that. Aston Villa are now facing four straight defeats for the first time under Emery and will remain in eighth spot.
There will be four minutes of added time here but I don’t think there is any doubt that Liverpool are heading five points clear at the summit of the Premier League. 
There was a brief check by VAR for a penalty for Villa before the goal but it was correctly not given. Liverpool have just looked so dangerous on the counter and it felt like a matter of time before they would add a second on the break.
Liverpool 2 Aston Villa 0 (Salah) Villa are appealing for a penalty for a foul on Torres as they push for an equaliser but Liverpool clear and are in again. Salah nicks it in his own half and has the freedom of Villa’s half to bear down on goal. He has options with him but he opts to go alone and dispatches his effort past Martinez.
It’s end-to-end stuff now and Villa look to break immediately the other way. A delightful ball is delivered towards Duran from the left but Van Dijk can get a foot in to poke over as he faces his own goal. 
Villa are really starting to press now but with Philogene getting on the end of a cross but his header loops over.
Rogers does excellently to drive Villa up the pitch down their left and win the corner. Konate flicks the defensive header out for another corner from the other side before Kelleher can punch away.
Liverpool, as in the first half, look likely to score from a Villa corner as they break through Salah but his ball across to Diaz doesn’t have quite enough on it and Konsa cuts it out superbly on the slide. 
Kamara gets an early yellow card for pulling the Liverpool player back but Robertson’s free-kick from a dangeorus position on the edge of the area comes to nothing.
Villa look to break and do so well as Philogene is found on the edge of the box but as he looks to burst into the box Diaz does superbly to recover and put a foot in before the Villa man fouls Robertson. That is so good from the Liverpool centre-forward. 
After a promising start to the second period, Villa are lacking a cutting edge now and can’t get their attacks right. Emery is making more changes as Digne and Onana makes way for Maatsen and Kamara.
Szoboszlai breaks clear down Liverpool’s right and produces a an excellent squared ball across the six yard box with his weaker foot. Konsa misses his clearance – he may claim it was a dummy – but either way it does enough to put off Gakpo and the ball runs through. 
Salah wins a soft foul from McGinn on Liverpool’s right and it will be Szoboszlai this time to deliver it in. 
Martinez comes to claim it but fails to do so as Konate gets a nick on the delivery. The ball drops to Gakpo at the back post but by the time he sorts his feet out and looks to curl one to the opposite corner, Martinez has got back in and can claim.
Moments later and the Dutch winger has a chance to cut and have another pop but this time it goes high and wide. 
Diaz makes a great run in behind and he is found well by Van Dijk but with the ball running towards the byline, the winger’s hooked cross is weak and into the arms of Martinez. 
It looks like Gakpo will be operating from the left and Diaz up front in the same way they did in the 4-0 hammering of Leverkusen in the week when Diaz bagged a hat-trick. 
The free-kick is swung in by Mac Allister to the back post but Diaz can’t control his header with several players challenging for it and it goes high and wide.
There are double-changes for both sides as Nunez and Jones make way for Gakpo and Szoboszlai for Liverpool while Watkins and Bailey are replaced by Duran and Philogene for the visitors. 
Nunez picks up another position towards Liverpool’s left before cutting in and taking aim but his curling effort is once again straight down the middle and easy pickings for Martinez. 
Liverpool have Villa penned well in their own half for a period before Watkins brings down Bradley and gives away the free-kick in a promising position for the hosts from their right. 
Villa have a free-kick in an attacking position from the left. It’s cleared by Liverpool but the Video Assistant Referee is checking for a shirt pull by Bradley on Torres. The check is relatively quick and nothing is given but Villa definitely had a case there. 
Mac Allister chips a ball into Nunez and despite the flag going up, the referee takes another ten seconds to blow his whistle much to the frustration of Villa and Emery.
Nunez is caught on it and Villa threaten through Watkins, Tielemans and Bailey but Liverpool can numbers back in to stifle attack. The hosts give it away again though close to their box but again Villa can’t capitalise as Rogers’ pass is wayward. 
After another period of possession among Liverpool’s back four and midfield, Jones gives it away this time but Bailey can’t beat Robertson. The visitors are being presented chances here by Liverpool but just look a bit toothless in those moments of transition. 
Rogers look to slide in Watkins but a combination of Konate and Jones dispossesses the Villa forward. 
Liverpool then slow down what has been a frantic start to this second period with a spell of possession.
Villa should be level immediately! Rogers latches onto Konate’s header before bursting into the left of the box but after bearing down on goal his curled finish looking for the right corner goes wide.
Moments later and Liverpool have a golden chance themselves! Robertson delivers another excellent cross from the left that finds the head of Nunez six yards out but it goes wide of the left post. He has to do better.
The players are back out for the second half Aston Villa get us back underway kicking from left to right.
Despite Digne limping intop the tunnel at half-time, there were no changes at the break. A reminder that both sides were forced into changes in the opening period with Alexander Arnold and Ramsey making way. 
As it stands, Liverpool are heading five points clear at the top of the Premier League following Manchester City’s 2-1 defeat against Brighton earlier this evening.
And much like City, Aston Villa are heading for their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions for the first time under their current manager.
 
Mohamed Salah is the first Premier League player to provide 10+ assists across all competitions this season. 🅰️ pic.twitter.com/25LjNmbDUz
 
Emery will be happy with Villa’s response before half-time, Kelleher forced to make two fantastic saves to keep Liverpool ahead. The visitors resisted well after what threatened to be an Anfield blitz. 
But Liverpool’s quality has shone and when they lift the tempo, the Villa players are having to work overtime to close the gaps. Digne is limping off at half-time. Anyone reckon he doesn’t fancy the second half against Salah?
Jones does excellently to wriggle away from Tielemans before the Villa man brings him down and picks up the yellow card.
There’s a late chance for Liverpool as they work it beautifully from back to front. Diaz feeds the overlapping Robertson whose dangerous ball across the six-yard box is cleared superbly by Torres.
That was the last action of the half as the whistle is blown on an enthralling opening period.
As Ramsey got back in to support Digne with Salah, he appears to have injured his hamstring. It looked like he pulled up after the first challenge before going into another after sustaining the injury. 
John McGinn is quickly stripped and will be coming on to replace Ramsey. The Scotland international is immediately given the captain’s armband. There will be at least three minutes of added time at the end of the half.
Nunez cuts in from the right and lets fly from the edge of the box but it’s straight at Martinez and at a comfortable height for the keeper. 
Following a slick Liverpool move, Salah mis-controls in the box but a heavy touch from Carlos gives away the corner down the hosts’ right. It drops to Gravenberch on the edge of the box but he leans back and his effort goes way over. 
Two Villa corners ought to have led to two Nunez breakaway goals. His two attempts sum up his Liverpool career – occasionally sublime, often ridiculous.
With Villa winning another corner down their right we should expect to see a Liverpool chance any moment now. Villa do manage to muster a chance of their own from this one as Kelleher is forced into a great save from Onana’s flicked header that was creeping in under the bar. 
From the resulting corner the Liverpool keeper reacts superbly once again as no-one gets a touch on the inswinging delivery. He is less convincing on the next cross as he comes to claim but gets nothing on it but gets away with it as it goes out for a goal-kick. 
That is unforgivable from Aston Villa to let Liverpool through on goal like that just minutes after conceding in the exact same way and they are so fortunate that Nunez didn’t punish them. 
Rogers goes in late on Van Dijk and picks up the yellow card. Ramsey and Digne combine well again before the full-back delivers another dangerous cross to the back post but Bailey is just too narrow to get on the end of it.
Good work from Bailey down Villa’s right wins the visitors a corner but once again Liverpool break clear from it and it should be two! 
It’s cleared to Salah who once again is provider as he plays a perfectly weighted ball for Nunez to run on to. He does everything right as he gets in front of the defender but as he opens his body to finish on his right foot his effort goes over. 
Lucas Digne might see Salah’s face in his nightmares tonight. The Egyptian is all over him so far.
Replays show that the referee in fact waved play on when Salah was brought down ahead of the goal rather than playing advantage. It’s a good job Liverpool scored otherwise that decision would have received a heap of scrutiny. 
 
Can we call that a typical Jurgen Klopp team goal or have Liverpool moved on from him already? Lightning breakaway. Villa’s midfield started well, especially Ramsey and Rogers – but Liverpool look in the mood this evening. Alexander-Arnold’s injury is a concern, however. 
Villa win it back high up the pitch and Watkins has space to shoot on the right side of the box but he drags his effort wide of the left post. He has to be doing better there. 
Salah and Nunez nearly combine again as the winger digs out a deft cross to the back post but the striker can’t quite stretch his neck muscles enough to get on the end of it.
Villa look for an immediate response and are appealing for a penalty as Watkins goes down under the challenge of Konate but the referee gives it the other way. Replays suggest Watkins did perhaps go down slightly easily.
Not a good sight for Liverpool fans as Trent Alexander-Arnold goes down and is needing treatment. He is going to have to make way here and Conor Bradley is on in his place.
Liverpool 1 Aston Villa 0 (Nunez) Following Aston Villa’s corner Liverpool break quickly as Van Dijk plays in Salah to the Villa half. Salah looks like he might be in on goal before being brought down by Bailey but Nunez is there to latch onto the loose ball. He takes a touch to widen the angle and take it somewhat round Martinez before finishing well from an angle.
Villa have a chance to counter down their left through Watkins and Ramsey and following a dangerous cross from Digne and good work from Tielemans the visitors win the corner. 
Aston Villa are really started to grow into the game now. Tielemans spins and finds space down the left channel before curling a cross to the back post where Bailey is arriving but the winger heads over. It was a good chance though!
Robertson goes on a marauding run down Liverpool’s left and wants the corner following Konsa’s block but the ball rebounded off the Scotsman and a goal-kick is given. Again the visitors are taking their time over the goal-kick, that is clearly an instruction of Emery. 
Tremendous pace to start of this game, and Mohamed Salah is already looking ominously sharp…
Villa haver a better opening moments later as Digne’s overlapping run takes away the defenders allowing Ramsey to enter the box but as he looks to set to test Kelleher, Gravenberch slides in to produce a wonderful recovery block. 
Villa are looking to take the sting out of things as they take their time over the resulting free-kick. They can sense Liverpool have started strongly here.
Villa have their first effort as Rogers, Ramsey and Watkins combine before the latter lets fly with a speculative effort from the edge of the box but it goes over. 
Digne puts in a good challenge on Mac Allister down Liverpool’s right but gives up the corner and it’s Robertson who will take it.
His inswinging delivery is headed away by Onana but the free-kick is given anyway for a push on the Villa man. 
Alexander-Arnold is found with space on the right and quickly feeds Salah outside of him. The forward cuts in and looks to catch Martinez out with a snapshot into the near post but it has little power and is blocked by Carlos. 
Tielemans is clumsy in the challenge with Gravenberch and gives away the free-kick. Liverpool quickly work a ball out to Alexander-Arnold and he plays a typically dangerous cross into the box but Diaz can’t quite bring it under his spell at the back post.
A nice ball from Van Dijk finds Salah on the right who in turn picks out Nunez with a lovely ball with the outside of his foot. Nunez, inside the area, goes down under the attention of Carlos but nothing is given.
Liverpool have definitely started the brighter early on. The hosts feel aggrieved once again as Salah is denied a free-kick despite being tugged back by Digne. The Anfield crowd already sounded up for this one but a couple of decisions against them has turned the volume a notch higher.
Following a minute’s silence for Remembrance Sunday, Liverpool get us underway kicking off from left to right towards the Kop.
Can the hosts extend their lead at the summit to five points or will Aston Villa climb from eighth to third with a surprise win? 
Liverpool and Aston Villa are making their way out of the tunnel with Anfield in full voice. Arne Slot’s men will be desperate to capitalise on Manchester City’s loss against Brighton. The action is now less than five minutes away. 
Liverpool supporters already enthusiastic about their team’s form will be bouncing into the stadium from the neighbouring Albert Pub after seeing the Manchester City result. Arne Slot has unsurprisingly retained Curtis Jones ahead of Dominik Szoboszlai and Andy Robertson is back in favour at left back.
Unai Emery has mixed memories of facing Liverpool. He led Sevilla to victory over Jurgen Klopp in the 2016 Europa League final, but has also taken some beatings as Arsenal and Villarreal coach. While Liverpool are eying a five point lead at the top, Villa could be just four points off the leaders with a victory after which we would be talking about the most open title race in years.
Arne Slot’s side will start and finish tonight’s game top of the Premier League table after Brighton came from behind to earn a stunning win over Manchester City. 
Liverpool will be two points clear at the top of the table – and will have a five-point gap if they beat Aston Villa tonight! 
Get the latest reaction from Amex here.
Aston Villa have drawn one and lost three in their last four matches, although two of those defeats were in the Champions League and Carabao Cup – they have dropped to sixth in the Premier League table.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Aston Villa manager said . . .
“I’m not worried about how we are now. We are a competitive team to be in the top seven, top five, top four.
My message, which was very clear from the start of the season when we were more or less getting points and being in the top four – not now but we were, was we are enjoying what we are doing.
We had last year, a very successful season in Premier League, getting to the Champions League. This year, to keep it is the objective for us.
But we are not contenders, we are not favourites – they are Liverpool, [Manchester] City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Newcastle.
Of course there are some teams which are a surprise being there, like now Nottingham Forest. After last year, we were a surprise when we were getting the fourth position.
There are another seven teams that we have to be more intelligent than and more competitive.”
Speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game, the Liverpool manager said . . .
“Everyone has mainly focused on our results, which have been good – you also enjoy your time if you work with people that you really like and the staff and everybody at Liverpool welcomed me and my staff a lot. If you then also have the results then you enjoy your time at the club – I expected Luis Diaz to do well but to do so well was even for me a bit of a surprise.
If you have four attackers like we have, you are always a bit tempted, who should you play? – Cody has played so many games that we thought these three should be the best pick. We will know after the game if that was the right choice to make. In every decision a lot goes into it – confidence – how much they have played recently – this is now the second time Curtis has been lined up.
Szoboszlai would have been a good pick as well – ideally we will start the game like we end it – but that is easier said than done – our opponent is also really fresh when the game starts.”
Brighton have deservedly taken the lead against Manchester City – to make it 2-1. If the result stands, Liverpool will be staying top of the Premier League whatever happens!
Catch the last five minutes of the game via our live blog here.
Saturday night arrivals 📍@Expedia | #Ad pic.twitter.com/pCnbTei5NQ
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Unai Emery makes two changes from the side that were beaten heavily by Tottenham Hotspur last week. Captain John McGinn drops to the bench with Leon Bailey coming in.
The other is an enforced change as Diego Carlos starts instead of the injured Matty Cash.
Happy with this side, Aston Villa fans?
Unai Emery’s side to take on Liverpool 📋#LIVAVL || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/JBnOYTvkrr
Arne Slot makes two changes to his starting XI from the 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. 
Darwin Nunez and Andrew Robertson replace Cody Gakpo and Kostas Tsimikas.
Come on you Reds 💪🔴 #LIVAVL
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of Liverpool vs Aston Villa from the Premier League as Arne Slot’s side look to ensure top spot heading into the international break. The Dutchman has exceeded many expectations since taking over from Jurgen Klopp in the summer, guiding Liverpool to the summit of the division having won eight of their opening ten fixtures.
Another three points this evening against Unai Emery’s men would guarantee they stay there heading into the third international break of the campaign. With second-placed Manchester City currently in action against Brighton and Hove Albion, a win for the reigning champions would take them one point ahead of Liverpool ahead of tonight’s clash at Anfield. 
Slot has had an even better start in Europe, with Liverpool’s 4-0 hammering of Bayer Leverkusen at Anfield on Tuesday cementing their spot at the top of the Uefa Champions League group phase table, having won all of their opening four fixtures. This result extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 12 games. 
Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s perfect start to Europe’s elite competition came to an end this week as they lost 1-0 away to Club Brugge on Wednesday. The game was won via a penalty given away in bizarre fashion as Tyrone Mings, on his Champions League debut, picked the ball up inside his area following a goal-kick.
This result marked the third successive defeat in all competitions for Emery’s side after being knocked out of the League Cup by Crystal Palace before being thumped 4-1 by Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. 
Three points this evening for last season’s fourth-placed side would take them from sixth to third prior to Chelsea and Arsenal’s meeting at Stamford Bridge and Nottingham Forest’s clash with Newcastle on Sunday.