ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL // Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool and Ibrahima Konate was sensational as Arne Slot’s side moved five points clear at the summit of the Premier League table after 11 fixtures.
Nunez put Liverpool ahead in the first half as the Reds moved into the lead after a strong start to the game — presumably fresh in the knowledge that Manchester City had lost to Brighton. And Salah sealed the result with around 15 minutes to play when he casually put the ball over the top of Emi Martinez when he raced through on goal.
With Manchester City coming to Anfield on December 1, the momentum is building for the Reds to make that a massive fixture. Here are the four things Liverpool.com spotted as the game against Aston Villa unfolded.
Darwin Nunez scores but familiar outcome
While Nunez sent Liverpool on its way to a win, the Uruguayan also missed the kind of chance that he needs to be scoring if he wants to establish himself as one of the best strikers around. He was involved enough but that kind of clinical edge remains missing; there was a chance when Andy Robertson squared at the very end of the first half too.
Nunez has always been this kind of player for Liverpool but would he be starting if Diogo Jota was fit? No. If this was the Champions League final, would he have played or would Arne Slot have gone with Luis Diaz in the middle again, with Cody Gakpo on the left flank? Quite possibly (he did that in the second half). That says a lot about where the Reds’ record signing remains in his Anfield career.
Curtis Jones justifies his place
Selected ahead of Dominik Szoboszlai in the Liverpool number 10 role, Curtis Jones impressed again with his ability to keep things ticking over in the middle of the pitch. He was frustrated at times when he made the wrong decision but that didn’t happen too often. That tends to be the case when he is in a strong vein of form.
Jones will need to further build on what he has been doing in the last few weeks for Liverpool but the Reds’ number 17 is right in his stride now. He is playing so well that Slot has a dilemma in the center of the field for big upcoming matches against the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester City. Szoboszlai’s off-the-ball work is exceptional. Jones’ performances, though, are speaking for themselves.
Ibrahima Konate sensational
Virgil van Dijk is always a high performer so perhaps he is going under the radar simply because elite is just his level. This season so far, though, there is an argument that Ibrahima Konate has been just as impressive.
In this game, coming up against the likes of Ollie Watkins and many more, Konate was a monster in the air and on the ground. His speed and physique make him almost impossible to get past.
Watkins might not be in the form he was last season at the moment, but he is still quick and direct. Konate took care of him with the level of composure and confidence of a center-back at the peak of his powers.
Premier League title race takes shape
With Brighton coming from a goal down to Manchester City immediately before Liverpool played, it felt vital for Arne Slot’s team to get a victory and extend their lead at the summit. Already two points ahead of the Etihad side at kick-off, Liverpool is now five ahead having come through a tricky opponent in the form of Aston Villa.
Arsenal, level on 18 points with Chelsea heading into this weekend and the pair’s meeting at Stamford Bridge tomorrow, is now 10 points behind the top of the table. Over to the Gunners before the November international break… and at this point in the season, the argument that the sample size is small and Liverpool hasn’t played anyone yet doesn’t hold either.
This was a huge moment in the season for Slot, who needed to take advantage of Pep Guardiola’s woes. There was a slip to be capitalized on and the Liverpool team made sure that it was. The game between the sides on December 1 is now looming large, and the circumstances in which it could be played may well be very similar to the season when the Reds won the league under Jurgen Klopp.
