Liverpool overcame a spirited second-half performance by Aston Villa to earn a 3-1 victory on Boxing Day at Villa Park.
The Reds were far from their prime, but the crucial three points meant Jurgen Klopp’s side are now back in the hunt for a top-four finish.
This was also the first time the Merseyside side had won three consecutive games since finishing strong last season.
Mohammed Salah opened the scoring for the Reds on the fifth minute after right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold found Andy Robertson with an outrageous long pass, the latter setting him up on a layup for the Egyptian to give Liverpool a fast start. .
The goal meant that Salah has now equaled club legend Kenny Dalglish’s record for the Anfield side. This was also Roberton’s 54th assist in 231 games, the highest by any defender in Premier League history.
Liverpool could have easily been 2-0 ahead if Darwin Nunez hadn’t missed a golden opportunity when he scored the goal and only Olsen beat right at the half hour mark.
Virgil Van Dijk doubled the lead early on 37 minutes after Alexander-Arnold’s corner kick with his left-footed shot past Ezri Konsa past the defenseless Robin Olsen into the Villa goal. Liverpool were cruising into half time with Villa barely having a foothold in the game.
Aston Villa finally turn chances into goals
However, the hosts started better than both teams after the break and saw a goal disallowed by Ollie Watkins, who appeared to be offside in the build-up to the goal.
John McGinn squandered a glorious chance on 48 minutes after being spotted by left-back Lucas Digne. McGinn, who was unmarked at the far post, was torn between hitting or heading the ball and saw the ball hit his shoulder before rolling towards Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
However, Watkins pulled one back for the hosts with a powerful header after a wonderful ball from Douglas Luiz from the right wing. The striker moved away from Joel Matip and placed his excellent header past Alisson to give the villains some hope with 30 minutes to go.
Núñez missed a great opportunity on 75′ to end the game, but the Uruguayan finished off wide after a pass from Salah.
However, four minutes later, it was a teenage substitute who made it 3-1 by flicking the ball past Olsen and through the legs of Tyrone Mings with great composure.
The 18-year-old had only been on the pitch for just a couple of minutes and his goal made the Spaniard the third youngest goalscorer in Liverpool history behind Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling.
This was Bajcetic’s second Premier League appearance and scoring the goal meant he became the youngest Spanish goalscorer in the Premier League since Cesc Fabregas in 2004.
Liverpool currently sit sixth in the table with 25 points from 15 games, one point behind arch-rivals Manchester United and 4 adrift of Tottenham Hotspur for a place in the top four.
Photo credit: IMAGO / Propaganda Photo
