Liverpool made a successful return to Premier League action as they beat Aston Villa 3-1 in an entertaining Boxing Day encounter. The Reds went into the game having won just once on the road in the league all season, but got themselves well on track to double that tally when Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk netted before the break.
Ollie Watkins’ expertly-placed header halved the deficit and chances continued to flow at both ends in a wide-open contest with Darwin Nunez particularly wasteful. But Stefan Bajcetic came off the bench to score his first senior goal and seal the points for Liverpool.
The result marks Unai Emery’s first Premier League defeat since replacing Steven Gerrard and there were certainly positives for the Spaniard. But such is the potency of this Liverpool team, going toe-to-toe with Salah and the rest always looked to be a risk.
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It was much-needed win for Liverpool, one that moves Jurgen Klopp’s side to within five points of Tottenham in fourth with a game in hand over the north London side. The Reds do not face a team above them in the table until mid-February.