Disturbances and irritations on the market, peace and progress on the field.
Whatever uncertainties Liverpool may feel about their leading man’s future, there’s nothing like a walk in the sun to lift the mood.
There will be tougher days ahead, and they could emerge this week if Saudi Arabia made irresistible foolish efforts in pursuit of Mo Salah, but this was a fun interlude. A quick, easy dance around Aston Villa’s cones.
It really was a battle, a clash between class and fragility, with two goals within 22 minutes before Villa were finally shelved with a third in the 55th minute.
Of course they were done by then, but the funny thing about that third goal was the roar it brought about.
Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first goal since joining Liverpool from RB Leipzig as they en route to victory over Aston Villa
The Reds were in fine form despite off-field disturbances during the transfer window over Mohamed Salah’s future
Mohamed Salah scored third goal of the game amid transfer speculation as Liverpool dismantled Aston Villa
It was the loudest of the bunch and the least impressive blow. It had none of the crackles and pops of Dominik Szoboszlai’s opener, and it didn’t have the quality of Trent Alexander-Arnold’s assist in the second, because it was a tap. A nudge over the line from a meter or two .
But it was Salah and that counts more now. Looking at the 188 goals he has scored for this club, it could be somewhere at the bottom, but they cheered, they sang his song, and therein lay the unspoken fear that it could be his last.
Clearly Jurgen Klopp thinks otherwise, and no doubt has more facts on the question of Al Ittihad’s importance than most, but the air gets very thin when a bid goes above £150m. We wait to see if Mo walks when money talks.
In the interest of division you hope not, especially as Liverpool are getting a much more competitive outing than last season.
Losing Salah would be crippling at a time when everything looks rosy, especially in the wake of their most comprehensive performance of the campaign to date.
This was indeed an excellent teardown of a batch that was not limited in quality. Villa looked shabby, mainly due to the fluctuating richness of Klopp’s attack, but also the solidity of a Liverpool midfield that serves its purpose much more effectively than the midfield it replaced. Szoboszlai was excellent, ditto Alexis Mac Allister – they are each a shield and a spear in the armory.
The back line and Alisson behind it had little to do, although that also points to Villa’s shortcomings. To sum up their day, consider the experience of Leon Bailey – who came on as a substitute after 19 minutes and was taken off on 65 minutes. Those kind of afternoons.
Szoboszlai has improved a midfield that needed it after arriving at Anfield for £60m and found it just before the opener
Liverpool doubled their lead as Matty Cash shot through his own net as Aston Villa shot themselves in the foot
The ineptitude of Unai Emery’s defense was so great: they trailed by two before Emiliano Martinez made a save on his return from injury.
The first of these was a beauty in Szoboszlai’s execution, but a petty farce in the way Villa made it happen.
The initial difficulty was caused when Pau Torres was harassed by Salah and Nunez to conced a cheap corner kick, and the clatter was effectively taken away in their reaction to Alexander-Arnold’s ball.
Despite all eleven of Villa’s men defending the area, the cross was allowed to fall at the penalty spot, from where it bounced unimpeded towards Szoboszlai.
His half volley technique was impeccable and the flight was one of those slowrisers that look so beautiful. For good measure, he also tackled Lucas Digne with a challenge just as Villa’s first chance pulled the trigger.
The second goal owed everything to the ingenuity of Alexander-Arnold, who wanted to roll a simple pass wide of the line, but instead switched by pinging a 40-yard over the line.
Mohamed Salah, who has been linked with an extraordinary £200 million move to Saudi Arabia, scored Liverpool’s third goal
Salah was his usual dangerous self and came close to contributing to the number of Liverpool players as they dominated Aston Villa
Digne was very slow to adapt, giving Salah room to slide an infield pass to Nunez. The striker’s shot bounced off the post but clattered into Matt Cash on his way out for an own goal.
Joel Matip and Nunez missed good chances to make it 3-0 and Emery, who was already forced to replace the injured Diego Carlos, became increasingly irritated. His team had made it too relaxing for the opposition, who had to come from behind in the previous two victories.
Nunez missed a fairly easy header at the start of the second inning, but played a key role in making it 3-0 with his tag from Andrew Robertson’s corner. Waiting at the far post, Salah stepped away from Digne and touched the finish. It was simple and it was easy. But was it his last?
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