Premier League: Liverpool Opens Five-Point Lead At Top

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Liverpool opened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as goals from Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah sealed a 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Manchester City’s earlier defeat was the perfect pre-match tonic for Liverpool and Nunez’s 20th minute strike following a lightning counter-attack set the tone at Anfield.

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez scores goal against Aston Villa.

The home side were made to work hard by a patient Villa side but combined a measured approach in defence with lethal counter-attacking.

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made some vital saves to preserve his side’s lead, but Salah raced clear in the 84th minute to wrap up the points and maintain their sensational start to the season under new manager Arne Slot.

Liverpool and Egypt winger Mohamed Salah scores goal against Aston Villa.

They have won 15 out of 17 games in all competitions since the Dutchman replaced Juergen Klopp in the close season. Liverpool will head into the international break with 28 points from 11 games with reigning champions City on 23. Villa’s third league defeat of the season leaves them down in eighth place with 18 points.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot saluted the ecstatic Anfield crowd at the full time whistle and they roared their approval as the post-Klopp era continues to defy even the most optimistic forecasts.

“We have players who are so fast on the counter-attack so it was good to see we scored two from them,” Slot said.

“We are really happy that after such a difficult period most of our players stayed fit. We’ve had some tough tests for sure, but after the break again they are tough.

“Margins are small, we have a bit of a margin but there are many challenges to come.”

Saturday’s Premier League results

Brentford 3-2 Bournemouth

Crystal Palace 0-2 Fulham

West Ham 0-0 Everton

Wolves 2-0 Southampton

Brighton 2-1 Manchester City.

Source Reuters

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