LIVERPOOL FIRST GOAL (5th minute)
Liverpool’s opening goal came from a move that began in the 2nd minute. Goalkeeper Allison made a long pass to left attacking side
Alisson executed his long range pass perfectly, left winger Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the ball alone on the left wing with a lot of space ahead of him.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross led to a corner for Liverpool early on.
Andy Robertson crossed the ball in. Trent Alexander-Arnold received the clearance about 20 yards from Villa’s box. Villa players concentrated on the central area and missed Robertson’s cross field run into the penalty area.
Alexander-Arnold made a beautiful inviting pass for Robertson to run onto, with one touch Andy Robertson squared it to Mohamed Salah who slotted home Liverpool’s opener.
SECOND LIVERPOOL (37th minute)
Liverpool scored after another corner after a smart move from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain initially. On the 36th minute he helped defenders on left side, helped dispossess Villa and started a counter attack.
Oxlade Chamberlain dribbled past 2 opponents.
Then he dribbled past a third Villa player and found Nunez with a pass that allowed to him to use his speed and technique. We saw similar situation at the Etihad with this duo.
Nunez missed his chance but it lead to the corner.
Villa made a schoolboy error. Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s most dangerous player on set pieces standing at a height of 1,95 was marked by Buendia standing at a height of 1,72.
Van Dijk lightly pushed Buendia and got the space he needed for the shot. Villa players failed to control the ball, Salah made a smart pass and Van Dijk nonchalantly slotted it home from close range.
ASTON VILLA GOAL (59th minute)
Kamara found free space near Liverpool’s penalty area and used his vision to play Buendia through.
Buendia failed to control the ball, Alexander-Arnold had a chance to clear the ball but his clearance went into the air. McGinn collected the clearance and made a back pass to Douglas Luiz.
David Luiz had only one real option. He used it and made a cross to penalty area to find Ollie Watkins.
Matip was close to Watkins but lost his man and Watkins scored a header from few yards out.
LIVERPOOL THIRD GOAL (81th minute)
This goal came from nothing at all. Harvey Elliott and Naby Keita forced Villa to make a mistake and won throw-in on the left side. Robertson threw the ball towards Young, but immediately made an interception wand passed it to Bajcetic.
Bajcetic confidently passed it forward to Mohamed Salah.
Mings won a positional duel but Joe Gomez was the first to react and collected the second ball. Gomez made a first time pass to Nunez who got in behind Konsa.
Konsa had a lead on Nunez but Nunez used his pace to power past him.
When Nunez took a shot from a difficult angle Stefan Bajcetic wasn’t even in the penalty area.
Salah, Elliott and Bajcetic all showed great desire and got into the box with late runs.
Bajcetic was the first to react. Bajcetic showed great composure, took the ball past Ashley Young and buried it into Olsen’s net to score his first goal for the club.
