**Liverpool Edge Aston Villa: Player Ratings & Recap**

Tecfai Editorial Team

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Post on Nov 10, 2024

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Liverpool Edge Aston Villa: Player Ratings & Recap

Liverpool secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday, a result that keeps their top-four hopes alive. The Reds dominated possession and created numerous chances but were forced to dig deep after Villa leveled the score in the second half.

A First-Half Masterclass

Liverpool started the game with intensity, pressing high and dominating possession. Mohamed Salah was a constant threat down the right wing, setting up the opening goal with a delightful cross for Darwin Nunez to head home in the 3rd minute. The Uruguayan striker continued to cause problems for the Villa defense, culminating in a second goal in the 22nd minute, this time from a precise finish after a clever pass from Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Alexander-Arnold himself was in fine form, dictating the tempo from his right-back position and providing numerous dangerous crosses. Cody Gakpo also impressed with his work rate and creativity in the final third. Liverpool looked comfortable and in control as they headed into half-time with a two-goal lead.

Villa Fight Back, But Liverpool Hold On

The second half began in a similar vein, with Liverpool controlling the game. However, Villa's spirit was not broken, and they started to create more chances of their own. Ollie Watkins pulled one back for the visitors in the 59th minute with a well-taken header from a free-kick. This goal injected a much-needed dose of belief into the Villa players, who began to press higher and put Liverpool on the back foot.

Just when it seemed like Villa might equalize, Roberto Firmino sealed the win for Liverpool in the 81st minute. The Brazilian, introduced as a substitute, expertly controlled a long pass from Fabinho before calmly slotting the ball past Emiliano Martinez. The goal deflated Villa and gave Liverpool the breathing room they needed to see out the match.

Player Ratings

Liverpool:

• Alisson (8/10): Made a crucial save in the second half to deny Watkins, demonstrating his usual calm and composure.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold (8/10): An outstanding performance from the right-back, providing the assists for both of Liverpool's first-half goals.
• Ibrahima Konaté (7/10): Solid defensive performance, winning his aerial duels and limiting Villa's threat.
• Virgil van Dijk (7/10): Another assured display from the Dutch defender, marshalling the Liverpool backline with his usual confidence.
• Andrew Robertson (7/10): A tireless performance on the left flank, both defensively and offensively.
• Fabinho (7/10): Controlled the midfield battle with his usual composure and tactical awareness.
• Curtis Jones (7/10): A bright performance, linking play well and contributing defensively.
• Cody Gakpo (7/10): Worked tirelessly in attack and linked up well with his teammates.
• Mohamed Salah (7/10): Always dangerous, creating chances and causing problems for the Villa defense.
• Darwin Nunez (8/10): A brace on the day, showcasing his lethal finishing ability and physical presence.
• Roberto Firmino (7/10): Came on as a substitute and scored a crucial goal, demonstrating his class and experience.

Aston Villa:

• Emiliano Martinez (6/10): Made a few good saves, but could do little to prevent the first two goals.
• Matty Cash (6/10): Had a tough time against Salah, but still put in a decent shift.
• Ezri Konsa (6/10): Struggled at times against the pace of Nunez, but was still a solid presence in the Villa defense.
• Tyrone Mings (6/10): Had a mixed game, making some good tackles but also giving away a couple of dangerous free-kicks.
• Lucas Digne (6/10): Had a relatively quiet game, but put in a decent shift defensively.
• Douglas Luiz (6/10): Worked hard in midfield, but struggled to break down the Liverpool defense.
• John McGinn (6/10): Tried to drive Villa forward, but was unable to make a significant impact on the game.
• Leon Bailey (6/10): Looked dangerous in flashes, but lacked the consistency to truly trouble the Liverpool defense.
• Jacob Ramsey (6/10): Worked hard in midfield but was unable to break down the Liverpool defense.
• Ollie Watkins (7/10): Scored a fine goal for Villa and was a constant threat to the Liverpool defense.

Looking Ahead

This win was a crucial one for Liverpool, who are still very much in the race for a top-four finish. They now need to maintain this momentum and focus on securing more wins in the coming weeks. For Aston Villa, this defeat was a setback, but they will be looking to bounce back quickly and continue their push for a top-half finish in the Premier League.