Liverpool vs Aston Villa. Premier League.
AnfieldAttendance53,093.
Match report and free highlights as Mohamed Salah's second-half penalty separates the teams on Steven Gerrard's Anfield return with Aston Villa
Sunday 12 December 2021 07:36, UK
Mohamed Salah made the difference for Liverpool on Steven Gerrard’s return as Aston Villa were beaten 1-0 at Anfield.
Salah won and converted the penalty midway through the second half to secure the three points and maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City.
Gerrard, who was making his return as an opposition manager for the first time, set his team up to frustrate and did so for over an hour, but left with only good wishes for comfort despite appeals for a penalty late on.
It was an emotionally-charged atmosphere at kick-off as there was applause for Ray Kennedy, winner of three European Cups at Liverpool, who died last month aged 70.
Thoughts were with Gerrard before and after, greeting the Kop with a shy wave upon emerging from the tunnel and then hearing his name sung loudly in the eighth minute.
But the Liverpool supporters turned their attention to the current players thereafter with Gerrard cast in the role of visiting manager sent to frustrate them. That is what Villa did.
Andy Robertson's header was deflected awkwardly and well saved by Emiliano Martinez. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, in an advanced role, curled an effort just wide.
But Liverpool were restricted to half-chances throughout a fiercely contested first half in which three players were booked and many more robust challenges went in.
Villa were obdurate but, with Ollie Watkins up front, there is pace on the counter-attack too, although it was Ashley Young who almost nipped in when Alisson slipped.
It was well balanced at the break, with the boos that greeted the officials at half-time, an indication that Gerrard's team were succeeding in making life very difficult.
The pressure was ramped up as Liverpool attacked the Kop in the second half, Virgil van Dijk's header being tipped over by Martinez before Salah curled just wide.
Klopp sent Diogo Jota on after an hour and he was soon causing problems, his shot being blocked by Tyrone Mings who was doing everything to repel Liverpool.
Even the Villa captain could not cope with Salah. A drop of the shoulder set him away and induced the foul. The Egyptian beat Martinez from the spot and Anfield erupted in noise.
Jota was still hungry and almost doubled the lead after intercepting a back-pass to Martinez. Salah should then have finished it when put clean through by the unselfish Sadio Mane.
There was almost a twist when late substitute Danny Ings came close to capitalising on indecision between Alisson and Joel Matip but was unable to seize upon the loose ball.
Gerrard wanted a penalty as Alisson seemed to catch Ings when he was scrambling to retrieve the situation.
Instead, Villa's impressive defensive effort brought no reward. And Gerrard's return became just another Premier League fixture at Anfield in which Salah stole the show.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp: "For 75 minutes we were outstanding. Then we go 1-0 up and the game opens up, let's say it like this. They changed a little bit but we changed too much. We lose our rhythm and when you lose your rhythm in a game it is hard to get it back."
Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard: "The plan was to stay in the game for as long as we could. The idea was to get to 60 or 70 minutes and then throw things at them when the crowd got nervous and it opened up. The penalty changed that. I thought we were unfortunate."
Memories were everywhere for him here.
Glance to his right and he could envisage the strike against Olympiakos that made Liverpool's Istanbul miracle possible. Glance to his left and he might recall the left-footed volley against Levski Sofia that sparked his touchline embrace with Gerard Houllier.
Houllier returned here as Aston Villa manager just over a decade ago and waved to the Kop - a move that was badly received among the travelling support. Gerrard had clearly been wary of painting himself as a Liverpool manager-in-waiting on his own return.
In truth, while there was good feeling before and after the game, it was the action that took centre-stage, chants for Gerrard soon being drowned out by chants of Liverpool early on.
The focus of the visiting manager was on his team and he set his side up well, limiting Liverpool to half-chances while the game was goalless as they defended bravely.
The threat on the counter-attack was there but one moment of quality proved the difference. Mings was three-quarters of the way towards the man-of-the-match award. But on an afternoon when Gerrard had a number of special moments, Salah needed only one.
Liverpool host Newcastle at 8pm on Thursday, while Aston Villa go to Norwich at 7.45pm on Tuesday. Watch free highlights from both games shortly after full time on Sky Sports.com, the Sky Sports App and the Sky Sports Football YouTube channel.
