LONDON — Liverpool opened up a five-point lead at the top of the English Premier League as Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah struck in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
The Reds took full advantage of Manchester City’s latest defeat at Brighton to surge further clear of the champions, AFP reported.
Liverpool failed to hit the heights of their second-half humiliation of German champions Bayer Leverkusen in a 4-0 Champions League win in midweek.
But Arne Slot’s men were again defensively solid to protect a sixth clean sheet in 11 league games and take a firm grip on the title race.
Villa’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions sees Unai Emery’s men slip to eighth, but only one point off third-placed Nottingham Forest.
The Anfield crowd was fired up by news of City’s 2-1 defeat at Brighton and inspired a fast start from the home side, but it was Villa who had the better chances in the opening period on the counter-attack.
Ryan Gravenberch produced an excellent last-ditch block to repel Jacob Ramsey’s shot before Leon Bailey headed over when unmarked at the back post.
Set-pieces have been one of Villa’s big threats during their two-year rise under Emery, but it was from their corners that Liverpool looked most dangerous before the break.
The opener arrived when Virgil van Dijk’s long clearance caught the visitors under-manned at the back and Bailey would likely have been sent off for bringing down Salah had Nunez not burst onto the loose ball to net his third goal of the season.
Liverpool was then dealt a blow as Trent Alexander-Arnold hobbled off with a muscle injury that is likely to rule him out of England duty in the coming weeks.
Only wasteful finishing from Nunez saw Villa escape from a carbon copy move to the first goal.
This time Salah played in the Uruguayan on the break from a corner, but he slotted high and wide with only Emi Martinez to beat.
The first-half story of Villa’s set-pieces continued as Caoimhin Kelleher was twice forced into fine saves from Amadou Onana and Diego Carlos to preserve Liverpool’s lead at halftime.
Morgan Rogers wasted another huge chance for the visitors to level just seconds into the second half when he sliced wide.
Nunez continued to have the best of Liverpool’s opportunities as he headed wide from Andy Robertson’s cross at the other end.
The home side was set for a nervy finale until Salah gave them breathing space six minutes from time.
Carlos’ header was charged down by the Egyptian who raced through on goal to dink in his 10th goal of the season.
Liverpool’s 15th win in 17 games since Slot took charge moves them into a commanding position in the title race.
And an out-of-sorts City is next to visit Anfield on December 1 after Liverpool visits bottom-of-the-table Southampton when Premier League action returns following an international break.
Man City had not suffered defeat in the league for nearly a year prior to losing at Bournemouth last weekend.
But after also exiting the League Cup to Tottenham and being on the end of a 4-1 thrashing by Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, Pep Guardiola has lost four straight matches for the first time in his illustrious managerial career.
The English champions looked set to bounce back from their chastening night in Lisbon on Tuesday when Erling Haaland prodded in his 15th goal of the season at the second attempt after his initial effort was saved by Bart Verbruggen.
City, though, were opened up at will in the second half and were finally punished by a pair of Brighton substitutes.
Joao Pedro fired in the equaliser after City failed to clear in a goalmouth scramble.
Matt O’Riley has had to wait for his Premier League debut after suffering a serious ankle injury days after sealing a move from Celtic.
The Danish international marked his bow in style when he slotted in from Pedro’s pass seven minutes from time.
“We are not able to do 90 minutes right now. Four defeats in a row. We have to change things quick,” Guardiola said according to AFP.
“Maybe after seven years winning six Premier Leagues, maybe one year another team deserves it.”
Liverpool kicked off at Anfield just 30 minutes later and quickly capitalised on City’s latest slip.
In a superb counter-attack in the 20th minute, Mohamed Salah was sent racing clear by Virgil van Dijk.
When Salah tumbled to the turf under pressure, Darwin Nunez seized on the loose ball and fired high into the net from an acute angle for his third goal this season.
