At Anfield, the vignette of Bailey scrambling back as the last defender and tugging at Mohamed Salah ’s shirt (top photo) was striking. It was the first of three Villa corners to result in a Liverpool chance and the most damaging, with Darwin Nunez scoring.

Niko: Great win for the Reds. Curtis Jones' work-rate and a couple of great blocks each from Gravenberch and Konate kept us ahead at half-time. But as per Liverpool's season so far, the second-half display proved too much for the opposition to handle, despite the heavy pressure Villa threw at us. Mo Salah once again proving his class.

Liverpool opened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as breakaway goals by 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.