Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool: Reds make winning start to Premier League top-four bid

The win over Villa gave the Reds a chance to force their way into the top four, and they did just that.

The Reds recorded a third successive league win for the first time this season and narrowed the gap to the top four to five points.

The perfect start to the game was created by a couple of passes from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, and they were able to take the lead in the fifth minute.

The visitors were able to add a second before the end of the first half when Van Dijk's shot went in off Konsa.

Unai Emery's side were rewarded for their persistence after the restart when Watkins headed in Douglas Luiz's cross, after Villa had missed a couple of good chances.

Home hopes of a dramatic fightback at Villa Park were ended by Bajcetic's goal nine minutes from time, which followed great work by Nunez to recover the ball at the byeline.

Liverpool up and running in top-four bid

He said he was pleased that his side would resume their campaign within punching distance of the top four, but he felt it was still a long arm.

With a game in hand on fourth-placed Spurs, the boss must now feel confident of reaching their goal.

Spurs drew with Brentford earlier in the day and their first-half double put the Reds in a good position.

Robertson's crucial role in the opener - setting up Salah with a first-time ball across the six-yard box after Alexander-Arnold's stunning outside-of-the-foot pass - saw him overtake LeightonBaines as the defender with the most assists in the competition's

It was not a job done for the Reds against determined opposition and they were relieved to add a late third after weathering intense Villa pressure.

After dropping 20 points from their first 14 games, there are signs of life for last season's runners-up.

Nunez shows worth despite misses

There wasn't a goal for Nunez to celebrate at Villa Park, but he showed flashes of the promise that persuaded the Reds to pay a lot of money for him.

It's clear that he should have added to his tally of nine goals in 20 games here, and on another occasion such misses could prove costly.

The tenacious 23-year-old ended the match with the highest expected goals value of any player, after landing four of his six shots on target.

His 12 touches inside the opposition box, as well as his match-leading figure, indicated his broader influence and caused huge issues for the Villa defence throughout.

There was a clear demonstration of his importance in the build up to the third.

Positive signs for Emery's Villa

There is still much to be optimistic about with the Emery era just starting.

He was hoping to become the first Villa manager to win each of his first three games in the club's history, but he will think his side's positive approach deserved more.

Watkins had already been denied by Alisson before John McGinn's back-post cross, while Bailey failed to connect with the ball when well- placed.

They are five points clear of the danger zone, thanks to their pre- World Cup victories over Manchester United and Seagulls.

• Aston VillaAston VillaAston Villa
• LiverpoolLiverpoolLiverpool

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Formations 4 and 4-2.

• 25Olsen
• 18Young
• 4Konsa
• 5Mings
• 27Digne
• 7McGinn
• 44KamaraSubstituted forCoutinhoat 85'minutes
• 6Douglas Luiz
• 10BuendíaSubstituted forIngsat 86'minutes
• 31BaileySubstituted forDendonckerat 86'minutes
• 11Watkins

Substitutes

• 2Cash
• 9Ings
• 16Chambers
• 20Bednarek
• 23Coutinho
• 32Dendoncker
• 35Archer
• 42Marschall
• 72Young

Formation 4-3- 3.

• 1Alisson
• 66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forGomezat 79'minutes
• 32Matip
• 4van Dijk
• 26Robertson
• 14HendersonSubstituted forBajceticat 79'minutes
• 3Fabinho
• 6Thiago AlcántaraSubstituted forKeïtaat 67'minutes
• 11Salah
• 27NúñezSubstituted forDoakat 88'minutes
• 15Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forElliottat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 2Gomez
• 8Keïta
• 19Elliott
• 21Tsimikas
• 28Carvalho
• 43Bajcetic
• 47Phillips
• 50Doak
• 62Kelleher

1. The match ended with Aston Villa winning.

2. The second half ended with Aston Villa winning.

3. The attempt was blocked. The ball from the centre of the box is not going to go in. Lucas Digne assisted by another person.

4. Naby Keta was the one who made the foul.

5. A free kick is won by Oliver Watkins.

6. There is a corner in the city ofLiverpool. There was a second Conceded by TYRONE MINGS.

7. A free kick is won by a player in the defensive half.

8. The foul was committed by Ezri Konsa.

9. The team from the city ofLiverpool. Ben Doak is the new person.

10. The foul was committed by HarveyElliott.

11. The Aston Villa player won a free kick.

12. The attempt was blocked. The left-footed shot by Bajcetic was blocked. Darwin Nez assisted

13. The substitution was for Villa. Danny Ings is the new person.

14. The substitution was for Villa. Dendon Leandercker is the new person.

15. The substitution was for Villa. There is a new player in the game, Philippe Coutinho.

16. The foul was committed by the person.

17. The Aston Villa player won a free kick.

18. The attempt was saved. Darwin Nez's shot was saved in the bottom left corner. The man is assisted by the person.

19. The goal has been scored. The shot was from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner.

20. Don't wait over. They are prepared to go on.

• Our coverage of your Premier League club is bigger and better than ever before - here's everything you need to know to make sure you never miss a moment