"Crisis club Liverpool find themselves level on points with second-placed Bournemouth after picking up their first Premier League points since 20 September. Their recovery appears simple in that context and, thanks in no small part to the Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, it was the balm that Arne Slot wished for after the worst run of his Anfield reign. He knows it must be only a starting point."
"A terrible mistake by Martinez presented Mohamed Salah with his 250th Liverpool goal before more poor Villa defending enabled Ryan Gravenberch to double the hosts' advantage early in the second half. Slot's name reverberated from the Kop as Liverpool banished the anxiety of six defeats in the previous seven games. It was also sung in the 24th minute with the game goalless and delicately balanced. The support was there for Liverpool's head coach long before the victory."
"One incontrovertible factor in Liverpool's dramatic slump has been their habit of conceding first and having to then take more risks chasing the game. It almost happened for an eighth game in succession when Morgan Rogers split the home defence with a superb ball into Ollie Watkins. The Villa striker returned possession to his England colleague and he stepped across Conor Bradley to curl a shot from the edge of the area towards the far corner."
Liverpool ended a poor run by beating Aston Villa 2-0, claiming their first Premier League points since 20 September and moving level on points with Bournemouth. A goalkeeper error by Emiliano Martinez presented Mohamed Salah with his 250th Liverpool goal. Ryan Gravenberch added a second early in the second half after more Villa defensive lapses. Arne Slot reverted close to last season's starting XI, bringing in Andy Robertson and pairing Gravenberch with Alexis Mac Allister. The Kop vocally backed Slot amid recent anxiety from six defeats in seven games. Florian Wirtz remained on the bench as a potential signing.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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