Report and free match highlights as Mohamed Salah scores Liverpool's third in 3-0 home win over Aston Villa; Egyptian's goal comes just two days after Reds rejected £150m bid from Al Ittihad; Dominik Szoboszlai opened scoring with stunner as Matty Cash's own goal doubled lead
Sunday 3 September 2023 22:37, UK
Mohamed Salah scored in Liverpool’s 3-0 home win over Aston Villa despite speculation over his future amid strong interest from Saudi Arabia.
Just 48 hours after Liverpool rejected a £150m bid from Al Ittihad for Salah on Deadline Day, the Egyptian blasted home from close range in the second half to add a third and maintain the Reds' unbeaten start.
With the Saudi transfer window closing on Thursday, Liverpool will be hoping Salah's goal will not be his last for the club with Al Ittihad potentially submitting an improved offer for the 31-year-old. One source has told Sky Sports News that the Saudi Pro League side are prepared to go to £200m.
Salah's strike came after Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first Liverpool goal with a stunning third-minute opener.
The home side doubled their lead in the 22nd minute through a Matty Cash own goal after the ball rebounded off him from Darwin Nunez's shot off the post.
There was an injury concern for Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on his 300th Premier League game in charge as Trent Alexander-Arnold limped off midway through the second half after a player-of-the-match performance.
Liverpool are now 15 games unbeaten in the Premier League and are up to third in the table, while Aston Villa suffered their second defeat of the season to sit 11th after four games.
Liverpool were full of momentum and confidence after last weekend's 2-1 win at Newcastle and it showed as they scored a third-minute opener.
A corner from Alexander-Arnold, captaining the side in the absence of the suspended Virgil van Dijk, fell to Szoboszlai on the edge of the box and the £60m summer signing arrowed a stunning powerful shot inside the far post.
Alexander-Arnold was again at the heart of Liverpool's second goal as his clever pass over the top released Salah who then teed up Nunez before his shot against the post deflected in off the unfortunate Cash.
Alexander-Arnold nearly had his second assist, only for the unmarked Joel Matip to head his delightful free-kick cross wide.
Nunez came close to adding a third before half-time but his clipped finish hit the bar from a narrow angle.
Villa failed to have a shot on target in the first half as John McGinn and substitute Leon Bailey spurned decent chances.
But the visitors finally tested Alisson Becker early in the second half as the goalkeeper superbly palmed away Cash's close-range header.
Moments later, Salah delivered a great ball across for an unmarked Nunez who put wide on a frustrating afternoon in front of goal for the Uruguayan.
But the pair combined again in the 55th minute with Nunez the provider this time as Salah made no mistake by blasting home from the striker's flick-on from Andy Robertson's corner.
Salah's 141st Premier League goal in 235 appearances capped off a fine afternoon for Klopp, who marked his 300th Premier League match in charge with a 188th win - only Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho have won more games as of that milestone.
Jurgen Klopp speaking to Sky Sports: "I saw a super hard working, super committed unit in red shirts and we made life really uncomfortable for Aston Villa.
"We really controlled the game in a really good way. Super individual performances that makes a top team performance.
"I loved the defending until we were 2-0 up. After that we settled there a little bit but second half we were there again, controlled the game and scored the third goal. It wasn't really a top game but it was the best for a while."
Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports: "It was a very bad result, there are many circumstances - Diego Carlos' injury and we conceded a very good goal. We had chances, four very good chances but they were clinical.
"We've lost to Newcastle and Liverpool - we want to try and be close to them but we didn't do it. They deserved to win, a very good opponent - they are better than us - but the league is 38 matches. We will be stronger and get better."
Liverpool's first fixture after the international break is at Wolves on Saturday September 16. Kick-off 12.30pm.
Aston Villa return to Villa Park against Crystal Palace on the same day. Kick-off 3pm.
