A LEGEND COMING HOME: 3 TALKING POINTS FROM LIVERPOOL 1-0 ASTON VILLA

TALKING POINTS FROM GERRARD'S RETURN TO ANFIELD 

-Parth Pabaru

-Editor: Mitansh Kagalwala

Photo via: lfcglobe.co.uk


Liverpool returned to Premier League action at Anfield after becoming the first English side to finish the Champions League Group Stage with a 100% winning record. They faced a tricky Aston Villa side, coached by new manager and former-Liverpool captain and legend Steven Gerrard. Aston Villa were under a turnaround of sorts, under Gerrard, looking several times more solid at the back since the arrival of the ex-Liverpool man. At the end of a tense game, Liverpool emerged victorious thanks to a Mo Salah (who else?) penalty. In this article, we take a look at some of the talking points from Stevie G's return home: 

1.   THE ROLE OF THE WING BACKS- Trent alexander arnold and Andrew Robertson have been key to Liverpool's recent successes. Whipping in cross after cross, they caused havoc in the Villa penalty box but were shut out most of the time by some brave defending by Villa skipper Tyrone Mings and his centre-back partner , Ezri Konsa. The importance of Liverpool's wingbacks has never been more clear, with most of Liverpool's build-up-play and attacking threat coming down the flanks. 

2.   MAGICAL MO SALAH - Mo Salah , Mo Salah , running down the wing, Salah , Salah , Salah, the Egyptian king! The Egyptian is in simply sensational form , leading the charts for the most goals and assists this season, and added to this tally here, securing three points with the only goal of the game. He set off on one of his trademark runs, leaving Tyrone Mings scrambling back, and having to resort to sticking out a leg, and the referee pointed to the spot. Emi Martinez has been in fine form this season, but couldn't put off Salah as he smashed his penalty off the post into the bottom right corner. Scoring the winning goal yet again , he continued his sublime form and is already 5 ahead of second-placed Jamie Vardy.

3.   MIDFIELD BATTLE AND SUPER SUBS- Jordan Henderson , Thiago and Fabinho squaring up against John McGinn , Douglas Luiz and Marvelous Nakamba always promised to be a fascinating battle. All six of these players were high on confidence after great results recently but once again , Liverpool edged out on top. Douglas Luiz and John McGinn linked up well for Villa and got a few shots away but nothing that really concerned Alisson. Thiago also stringed together some delightful through balls , one of them which led to the penalty. The game was majorly fought in the centre of the pitch, but ultimately Liverpool's quality beat out Villa's defensive discipline. Though the game ended in a loss, there were several positives for Villa to take from it, most importantly a much-improved defence. 

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