Five issues Arne Slot discovered as Liverpool pull clear at Premier League summit with Aston Villa win
Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the Premier League on Saturday night with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa.
Goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah saw the Reds past Unai Emery’s side at Anfield, meaning Liverpool now sit five points clear of defending Premier League champions Manchester City.
Here are five things Arne Slot learned on a night the Reds pulled further clear of their Premier League title rivals…
It’s a good job Liverpool kept Caoimhin Kelleher
During the summer, it looked a certainty goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher would be leaving Anfield. The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper should be starting week in, week out for a Premier League side, but has to play second fiddle to Alisson.
However, with the Brazilian currently sidelined, Kelleher has been enjoying an extended spell in the Reds starting XI – and Liverpool needed him on Saturday night. The Ireland international produced two saves from corners in the first half that threatened to get Villa back into the game. They were important saves and a reminder Liverpool made the right decision to keep Kelleher, who will likely leave next summer with the impending arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvilli.
The best and worst of Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez; still utter chaos. The Uruguayan opened the scoring at Anfield on Saturday night, a chance created by Liverpool countering an Aston Villa corner. After Mohamed Salah was disposed, Nunez took a heavy touch away from Emi Martinez in the Villa net, before producing a good finish to score for the Reds in front of the KOP end.
However, moments later, he was sent through one on one with Martinez once again on the counter, only this time, he blazed over, high and wide. While he did take his goal well, Nunez still cannot be relied upon to convert chances you would expect an expensive Premier League forward to take.
Trent Alexander-Arnold worry
Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off in the first half with an injury, going straight down the tunnel at Anfield. He was replaced by Conor Bradley, who could be Alexander-Arnold’s successor should he leave on a free in the summer.
The Reds will be hoping the injury to Alexander-Arnold is nothing serious however. While Bradley is an adept replacement, he is not the world class talent Alexander-Arnold is. Thankfully for the Reds, the international break is around the corner, which could lead to the Liverpool star pulling out from England duty.
Capitalised on Manchester City’s defeat
Liverpool knew going into the game against Aston Villa a win would send them five points clear of Manchester City, who lost 2-1 to Brighton on Saturday. And they did just that.
They went 1-0 up through Nunez, controlled the game for the majority of the second half, and then struck on the counter once again through Salah. The Reds did their job on Saturday night, which was win at all costs.
And because they did, they sit five points clear of Man City, and a whopping 10 points clear of Arsenal, who face Chelsea on Sunday at Stamford Bridge.
It could be Liverpool’s year
We’re only in November, but things are shaking up nicely for Liverpool this term. The Reds have lost just once this season, a 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest. Under Slot, they have won 15 of the 17 games the Dutchman has taken charge of.
Compare that to Man City, who lost their fourth consecutive game after losing to Brighton, and Arsenal, who have struggled at points so far this term, things look perfect rosey on Merseyside – leaving us to think it really could be Liverpool’s year.
