Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah each scored once as Liverpool defeated Aston Villa 3-0 at Anfield on Sunday to maintain their unbeaten record. An own goal by Matty Cash completed the scoring.
Szoboszlai scored the first goal of his Reds career with a stunning left-footed effort into the bottom right corner after a corner kick in the third minute of a match notable for the absence of the suspended Virgil van Dijk.
After a ferocious Darwin Nez shot rebounded off the post and onto the helpless Matty Cash, who could only watch as the ball went into the goal, Jürgen Klopp’s team kept pressing forward and doubled their lead in the 22nd minute.
A few minutes later, Jol Matip had a chance to increase Liverpool’s advantage but he mishandled a free header in the six-yard box following a gorgeous inswinging Szoboszlai free kick.
At the end of the first half, a lively Nez, who had been given the opportunity to play after his exploits against Newcastle the previous Saturday, had a chance to score. However, his dinked attempt over Emi Martnez from a tight angle was unsuccessful and bounced off the crossbar.
Cash had a golden opportunity to put Aston Villa back in the game only a few seconds after the break, but Alisson brilliantly clawed his free header away.
After Nez flicked on a beautiful Andy Robertson corner for Salah to easily tap in from the far post in the 55th minute, Liverpool was able to end the match.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s slashing run and long-range strike were the only Liverpool opportunities in the final 30 minutes before he left the game injured. However, they were ultimately successful in holding on for a straightforward victory, moving up into third place before the international break, just two points behind champions Manchester City.
GK: Alisson (8), RB: Alexander-Arnold (8), CB: Matip (7), CB: Gomez (8), LB: Robertson (7), CM: Jones (7), CM: Szoboszlai (9), CM: Mac Allister (8) RW: Salah (8), ST: Nunez (7) LW: Diaz (7).
Subs: Elliot (6), Jota (6), Gakpo (6), Quansah (6), Endo (N/A)
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New scare for Liverpool as Alexander-Arnold is sent for scan on injured hamstring
In what was an otherwise excellent afternoon at Anfield, the sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold leaving the field after 71 minutes will be a cause for concern for Liverpool fans.
After a convincing 3-0 win over Aston Villa extended their unbeaten start to the Premier League season – thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai and Mohamed Salah, either side of a Matty Cash own goal – the injury to the Reds’ full-back left a rather sour taste.
As reported by Ian Doyle Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, Alexander-Arnold went “straight down the tunnel” – normally an indicator of a more serious injury.
HAMSTRING PROBLEM
Following the match, Reds coach Jürgen Klopp confirmed that his vice-captain, who wore the armband today in the absence of the suspended Virgil van Dijk, had suffered a hamstring problem.
“We have to wait for the scan,” he told reporters, before adding that Trent himself said that the injury was “nothing serious”.
INTERNATIONAL BREAK
Having delivered yet another impressive performance at Anfield, including an assist for Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning opening goal within the first three minutes, it will be hoped that Alexander-Arnold will be ready in time for the Reds’ return after the international break against Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-September.
The 22-year-old, who was replaced by Jarell Quansah, had earned a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad for their Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine and friendly against Scotland. However, it now remains to be seen whether he’ll participate in the camp.
Given the limited options available to cover for Alexander-Arnold in the right-back position following Conor Bradley’s long-term injury, and ongoing concerns surrounding Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, any further disruptions to Liverpool’s defensive line are particularly unwelcome at present.
