The ex-Chelsea winger became just the second Reds player to both score and assist 50 Premier League goals as they closed the gap on the top four
This was just the Christmas present Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool wanted. Their Premier League season, belatedly, is coming to life, and Klopp was certainly smiling here as his side picked up a third successive league win with a hard-fought 3-1 win at Aston Villa.
First-half goals from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk had the Reds in control at Villa Park, but when Ollie Watkins reduced the deficit just before the hour mark, Klopp's men needed to show the kind of resilience that has been lacking too often in this most stop-start of campaigns.
They did so. Substitute Stefan Bajcetic, only just on the field, made the game safe nine minutes from time, showing remarkable composure to score his first professional goal, become the Reds' third-youngest Premier League scorer and allow his team to play out the remainder of the game with a degree of comfort.
With Tottenham having dropped points at Brentford earlier in the day, Liverpool are now within five points of fourth place and have a game in hand too. After a slow start, the Red machine is beginning to find some sort of groove.
GOAL runs through the winners and losers of an exciting Boxing Day clash…
Getty ImagesThe Winners
Mohamed Salah:
Where do you even begin with Liverpool's Egyptian King? For all the talk of slow starts and all the understandable fascination with Erling Haaland, it is overlooked just how relentlessly consistent Salah is, and continues to be. Here, he scored his 16th goal of the season, perfectly placed to finish off a fine, two-pass move from close-range, as he moved level with the great Sir Kenny Dalglish on 172 goals for the club. Later, he set up Van Dijk to make it 2-0, becoming only the second Liverpool player, after Steven Gerrard, to both score and assist 50 Premier League goals. He should have had more of both, too. His pace was frightening as he burnt away from Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings early in the second half, only for Robin Olsen to keep out his shot. Then he showed the other side of his game, producing a gorgeous through ball to send Darwin Nunez away for a chance the Uruguayan fired wide. That's Salah, always front and centre whenever his team are in action. One of the best in the world, for sure. One of the best Liverpool have ever had, for sure.
Liverpool's full-backs:
Pep Lijnders once said that his dream goal would be one full-back crossing for another to score. Well, he didn't quite get that here, but he got the next best thing. The game was only five minutes old when Villa spooned away a Liverpool corner from the right, the ball dropping to the feet of Trent Alexander-Arnold. With time and space, the England international was able to wreak havoc, picking out Andy Robertson's run with a sumptuous outside-of-the-foot pass. Robertson, having timed his movement to perfection, kept his head superbly to control a first-time cross for Salah, who applied the finish it deserved. It moved Robertson to 54 Premier League assists, one clear of Leighton Baines in terms of defenders. Next on the list comes Alexander-Arnold on 45. The standards being set by Liverpool's full-backs, creatively, continues to astound.
Stefan Bajcetic:
It was, at first glance, a rather strange substitution. Liverpool were under a bit of pressure at 2-1, and Jordan Henderson had been one of their better performers in a dodgy second half. Klopp, though, thinks the world of Stefan Bajcetic, and what reward he got for his gamble here. Bajcetic had struggled at Manchester City when handed a start in the Carabao Cup last week, but if you wondered if that might affect his confidence, then what a resounding riposte he provided. He had been on the field less than three minutes by the time Olsen pushed Darwin Nunez's cross into his path. Some would have shot first time, others would not even have been bold enough to venture that far forwards given the circumstances, but Bajcetic is a bit special, and his composure was off the scale as he chopped the ball away from the sprawling Olsen and, on his weaker foot, slipped the ball past Tyrone Mings and into the unguarded net. A first professional goal for the 18-year-old, who has made huge strides forward this season. We'll be hearing an awful lot more about him in the coming months and years.
Darwin Nunez:
He may not have scored or registered an assist, but ask the away end here about Darwin Nunez and they'll only have good things to say. They chanted the Uruguayan's name as he left the field, two minutes from time, and well they might. In a pulsating, end-to-end game, Nunez offered yet another window into why Liverpool signed him, and why there's still so, so much to come from him. Sure, it was wild at times. He dummied a cross he should have buried, missed a couple of chances you'd have liked him to score from, and opted to cross when the smart money was on the finish. But ask Villa's defenders if they enjoyed their night. They didn't. Nunez had them up the wall with his runs in behind, and his remarkable ability to constantly be on the end of chances. He finished having taken six shots, four of them on target, and having provided Liverpool with a constant outlet whenever they were under pressure. His contribution for the third goal was huge, expertly bringing down Joe Gomez's astute pass, racing to the byline and firing in a cross that Olsen could only push out to Bajcetic. Not an assist, but as good as. Rival fans don't seem to like him much – 'you're just a sh*t Andy Carroll' sang Villa's here – but he won't mind that one bit. Liverpool supporters love him, and they made their feelings perfectly clear here.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers
Aston Villa's high line:
When he reflects on this defeat, Unai Emery will reflect, surely, on his team's inability to hold a high defensive line in the first half. It cost them the first goal, Robertson breaking in behind to set up Salah, and had Liverpool been in ruthless mode, the game would have been done and dusted by the break as Salah, Robertson, Nunez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain found themselves in behind time and time again. Villa's centre-backs, Ezri Konsa and Tyrone Mings, were constantly left exposed and struggled for pace against Nunez and Salah in particular, and though the home side inevitably rallied in the second half, at one point threatening to chisel out a result, the damage done in the opening 45 was too severe. Emery, a pragmatist and a realist, with a superb coaching pedigree, knows they can ill-afford to be so easy to play against in the future.
Thiago Alcantara:
In what was at times a chaotic affair, it was noticeable that Liverpool's coolest customer found life rather difficult. Thiago is usually the man to bring control and class to proceedings, but the Spaniard was some way below his usual levels here, and it was no surprise to see his number go up when Klopp looked to make a change midway through the second half. Nothing to worry about, just too many loose passes – only 76 percent completed is crazy, for a player of his talents – and a few poor moments off the ball. Liverpool looked better with Naby Keita on the field, as the Guinea international made his first Premier League appearance of the season. Whether he can stay fit is another matter, but Klopp needed him here.
Tottenham:
The race for the top four is very much on, and Spurs are the ones feeling the heat. They slipped up in the early game on Boxing Day, although their 2-2 draw at Brentford could be seen as a win given they were 2-0 down shortly after half-time, and with Liverpool winning, their lead in fourth has been cut to just five points, with the Londoners having played a game more. Liverpool won't concern themselves too much with Antonio Conte's men for now, though. Leicester on Friday is their focus. Win that and go from there. To Brentford, as it happens. They'll hope for a better visit than their rivals had today.
Getty ImagesLiverpool Ratings: Defence
Alisson Becker (7/10):
Alert when called upon, and gave off an air of calm even when it looked a bit dodgy in the second half.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (7/10):
Brilliant pass to create the opening goal and it wasn't his last of the night either. Struggled a bit second half, looking leggy and was understandably replaced.
Joel Matip (7/10):
Had his hands full with Watkins but battled well. Defended his box expertly as the game got tight and even found time to go on a Matip wander down the right wing.
Virgil van Dijk (8/10):
Good strike, albeit deflected, to make it 2-0. Dominant in the air and defended with clarity and conviction.
Andy Robertson (8/10):
Superb assist for Salah and got so much space in the first half. Energy levels were exceptional.
Getty ImagesMidfield
Fabinho (7/10):
Looked much better here than he has for most of the season, competing and reading the game well. More of this would be most welcome, for his team.
Thiago Alcantara (5/10):
Not always great without the ball, and made too many mistakes for a player of his quality.
Jordan Henderson (7/10):
Set the tone with his energy and pressing, and got plenty of joy down Villa's left. Played with maturity amid the maelstrom in the second half and it was a surprise to see him replaced.