Salah On Target As Liverpool Brush Villa Aside

Mohamed Salah was back among the goals as Liverpool resumed their Premier League campaign with a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa on Monday night.

Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were back in the side after missing the loss to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, while Jordan Henderson was also given a start in midfield.

The Reds got off to the perfect start when Alexander-Arnold's superb pass picked out Andrew Robertson who in-turn teed up Mohamed Salah for the close-range finish.

Villa had a couple chances to pull level as Ollie Watkins was denied by Allison Becker in a one-on-one situation, while Leon Bailey scuffed his close-range strike wide on 13 minutes.

Liverpool had the ball in the back of the net on 20 minutes when Fabinho nodded home a free-kick from Robertson, however the goal was ruled out as the Brazilian defender was in an offside position. The Reds did go on to get their second goal in the 37th minute when Villa failed to clear a corner, which saw Salah pull the back for Van Dijk who fired into the far corner.

Villa thought they had got themselves back into the contest shortly after the break when Watkins broke free and fired into the bottom corner, but the strike was ruled for off an offside before the goal.

Watkins was not to be denied in the 58th minute when the England international pulled one back by heading home a superb cross from Douglas Luiz.

Liverpool should have restored their two-goal advantaged with 15 minutes left to play when Darwin Nunez was played through on goal but with only Robin Olsen to beat, the Uruguayan striker dragged his effort wide.

However, the visitors did their third goal through substitute Stefan Bajcetic showed composure to beat the goalkeeper and Tyrone Mings on the line for his first league goal.

The win takes Klopp's men up to sixth spot, five points behind the top four and one point adrift of Manchester United.