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By HARRY BAMFORTH and LEWIS STEELE AT ANFIELD and JOE BERNSTEIN AT ANFIELD Published: 05: 30 AEDT, 10 November 2024 | Updated: 08: 58 AEDT, 10 November 2024 163 View comments Follow Mail Sport's live blog for the latest score, team news and updates as Liverpool host Aston Villa in Premier League action from Anfield.   By Harry Bamforth Liverpool go five points clear at the top of the Premier League. By Harry Bamforth Liverpool have four more minutes to see this out. Surely Aston Villa can't come back from here? If they do, it would be one of the best in recent memory. By Harry Bamforth Arne Slot is now being serenaded by the Liverpool fans, they really do love him already. It's easy to see why, the Reds just look unstoppable at the moment. By Harry Bamforth Anfield is absolutely bouncing now, what a difference a goal makes, eh? If Liverpool go on to win this, it will be huge in the title race after Manchester City's loss earlier. It's not over yet, though. By Harry Bamforth I was just about to type that Aston Villa looked the more likely and then Mo Salah shut me up. It's what he does best, isn't it? Salah always has to have his say and that's his fourth goal in four Premier League appearances. By Harry Bamforth That should settle it! That is Mo Salah at his very best as he breaks away on his very own, and cooly finishes past Emi Martinez. Aston Villa want a penalty at the other end but the referee says no, and so does VAR. That should be that. By Harry Bamforth Ezri Konsa, that is an incredible tackle! Liverpool do get their counter-attack from the Aston Villa corner and the Reds are three-on-one. Mo Salah races away and tries to square it for Luis Diaz, but Konsa puts in an incredible challenge to stop him making it 2-0. A goal-saving challenge. By Harry Bamforth Ooooo, Aston Villa have a corner. This is either ending in one goal or the other and I simply don't know which. This is a big chance for Villa. .. and Ibrahima heads it out for another unconvincingly. Here comes the cavalry agin. By Harry Bamforth Now this is harsh. .. Boubacar Kamara is booked for a shirt pull on Cody Gakpo which is very similar to Conor Bradley's from earlier. It's definitely a foul, but it shouldn't be a card. By Harry Bamforth That's much better from Liverpool. The Anfield crowd get to their feet as they see Dominik Szoboszlai breaking down the right-hand side. Cody Gakpo is steaming in at the back post and the Hungarian tries to find him. But his low cross beats everybody. By Harry Bamforth Unai Emery turns to the bench again. Ian Maatsen and Boubacar Kamara are both on for Lucas Digne and Amadou Onana. They have just over 15 minutes to find an equaliser. By Harry Bamforth Cody Gakpo looks as though he wasn't to make this game more exciting. He picks up the ball on the left and you just know what he is going to do. He drives inside, takes a touch, and then takes aim for the top corner. But it bends over the bar. By Harry Bamforth Emi Martinez gets a slice of luck. .. A free-kick is swung in and the Aston Villa goalkeeper flaps at the ball with it going through to Cody Gakpo. But the Dutchman can't clip in the ball from a tight angle. By Harry Bamforth The chances have really dried up as this half of football has gone on. There will be a few big ones to come, but at the minute there is just no momentum with either side. I'm sure it will change. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Anfield stands to applaud their goalscorer Darwin Nunez as he is replaced by Cody Gakpo. Dominik Szoboszlai is also on for Curtis Jones as Arne Slot looks to switch things up. As does Unai Emery with super-sub Jhon Duran entering the action in place of Ollie Watkins. Jaden Philogene is also on for Leon Bailey. By Joe Bernstein At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Anfield was electric in the first half but the nervous energy has consumed the stands. There are many more groans and a lot fewer chants, they are getting very worried. By Harry Bamforth Darwin Nunez loves a dig from deep, doesn't he? Virgil van Dijk wins the ball high up the pitch and Nunez's first thought is to pick it up and shoot from outside the box. It's a tame effort and Emi Martinez collects it easily. By Harry Bamforth Anfield holds its breath as VAR checks for an Aston Villa penalty briefly. Conor Bradley has a hold of Pau Torres' shirt but it would be extremely harsh if it's given. And it's not, the check is completed very quickly. By Harry Bamforth It seems Arne Slot's message has got across because Liverpool are now starting to calm this game down. They are having all the ball and stroking it about as they aim to take the sting out of Aston Villa. It means the game is less exciting, sadly. By Harry Bamforth I just have a sneaky feeling that Aston Villa may nick a goal very soon. Ollie Watkins keeps drifting in behind the Liverpool defence, he just hasn't managed to get past Ibrahima Konate yet. You can tell in the Anfield crowd that they are nervous about an equaliser. By Harry Bamforth This second half has carried on in the same vain as the first, it's being played at a pulsating pace. I'm sure Arne Slot does want his side to calm things down, but it doesn't seem like they want to. By Harry Bamforth Darwin Nunez could easily have a hat-trick tonight, but it's just the one goal for now. Andre Robertson puts in a peach of a ball straight onto Nunez's head, but he arrows it wide of the post. The striker was just six yards out, he really should be doing better from there. I don't know how there has only been one goal in this match, it's crazy. By Harry Bamforth Nearly the perfect start to the second period for Aston Villa! Morgan Rogers finds himself through in the area within the first minutes. But he can't keep his effort on target in front of the Kop, it's a really poor finish from the young talent. By Harry Bamforth Right then, we are back underway at Anfield. There have been no changes at the break form either side, even though it looked like Lucas Digne was injured. Will there be more drama in this 45 minutes? By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Before the action restarts, we simply have to see these two Caoimhin Kelleher saves. I thought both headers were destined for the net, but the Irish keeper's reactions were incredible to stop them. Will Alisson definitely go straight back into the team? While he probably will, Kelleher has been superb since coming in for him while injured. By Harry Bamforth While Liverpool are rightly being praised for that first half, I thought Aston Villa played very well. They have had nine shots already in this game and could easily have had two goals if it wasn't for Caoimhin Kelleher. The chaotic nature of the match is giving them many opportunities, they just need to be clinical. This is far from over. By Harry Bamforth You know exactly what you are going to get with Mo Salah, don't you? 'The Egyptian King' has delivered once again today with an assist in that first half. That's his sixth of this Premier League campaign, and with his seven goals, he now has the most Gopal contributions this season. Salah always has his say. By Harry Bamforth Heavy-mental football is well and truly back at Anfield. If you were to watch this goal in a few years, you'd probably think it came during the era of Jurgen Klopp. The speed of the counter-attack was scintillating and Darwin Nunez then showed what he can do. Just listen to the noise, as well. Incredible. By Harry Bamforth Oh, Liverpool end the half with a brilliant move that nearly ends in a Darwin Nunez goal. The Reds break away and the ball is worked over to Andrew Robertson who squares it for Nunez to tap home. But there is an Aston Villa defender there to hook it clear and the whistle is blown thereafter. What a half of football. By Harry Bamforth Curtis Jones, that is pure filth. The Liverpool man brings down the ball brilliantly and dances around Youri Tielemans. The Villa man doesn't like it and pulls him down to the ground. A yellow card it is. By Harry Bamforth It is indeed the end of Jacob Ramsey's night, which is such a shame. It's not all bad for Aston Villa, though, as he is being replaced by the captain, John Mc Ginn. Not a bad player to bring off the bench, eh? By Harry Bamforth There will be three more minutes of this breathless half. There is an injury concern for Aston Villa as the board goes up, with Jacob Ramsey on the floor. It doesn't look good, it looks like his hamstring has gone. By Harry Bamforth I really don't want this half of football to end, as Joe said, it's been 'quality'. I mean, the fact that it's only 1-0 is completely crazy. It could easily be 2-2. It feels like we are watching the chaotic nature of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool once again. I love it. By Joe Bernstein At Anfield By Harry Bamforth You simply can't take your eyes off of this match for s single second, it's electric. Liverpool regain control of the ball and work it up to Darwin Nunez who has his sights set on another goal. He has a crack from outside the box, despite the crowd making it known they don't want him to. It's a decent effort, but Emi Martinez holds onto it. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth And again! Caoimhin Kelleher somehow outdoes his earlier save from the very next corner. This time it's Diego Carlos who meets it and you just think it's a certain goal. But somehow Kelleher digs it out, that is truly an unbelievable stop. Villa should be level. By Harry Bamforth This time Aston Villa actually get their corner routine right and it brings a huge save from Caoimhin Kelleher. Amadou Onana gets one hell of a connection from close range and Kelleher reacts brilliantly to push it over the bar. Brilliant goalkeeping. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Oooft, now that's a nasty challenge from Morgan Rogers. He lunges in late on Virgil van Dijk and leaves the Liverpool captain in a heap on the floor. It's fair to say he has no complaints when David Coote pulls out the yellow card. By Harry Bamforth How is it not 2-0? Darwin Nunez has just summed up his two years at Liverpool in just 10 minutes. Liverpool counter from an Aston Villa corner again and Nunez is one-on-one with Emi Martinez. He has all the time in the world but blazes his effort over the bar. He simply has to score that. By Harry Bamforth The game has settled back down after all that chaos. Anfield is still vibing, though. The fans inside this stadium are having a whale of a time. They will be happy with what they have seen today, so far. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Joe Bernstein At Anfield By Harry Bamforth You have to do better there Ollie Watkins. Aston Villa pounce on a mistake at the back and Watkins finds space in the area. His shot is poor, though, as he drags the ball shamelessly wide. What a game we have here. By Harry Bamforth Oh dear, this is not good news for Liverpool. Trent Alexander-Arnold is unable to continue and is forced off before the 25th minute. He is replaced by young Conor Bradley who played in his absence for large parts of last season. Arne Slot will be hoping it's not serious. By Harry Bamforth Anfield is in fine voice now, it feels like it's one of those special nights. Ollie Watkins tries to silence them and wants a penalty under pressure from Ibrahima Konate, but it's a clear dive. But then there is a bit of a worry for the hosts as Trent Alexander-Arnold has gone down. By Harry Bamforth Darwin Nunez delivers for Liverpool! That is Liverpool at their counter-attacking best and Anfield erupts. It starts with an Aston Villa corner and then Virgil van Dijk sets Mo Salah away on the break. Salah is through but is hauled down by Leon Bailey, but Nunez scoops up the ball, rounds Emi Martinez, and finishes brilliantly. The noise is then deafening. By Harry Bamforth There are a couple of moans and groans from the Anfield crowd as Liverpool misplace a couple of passes. Things have not quite gone their way in the last few minutes, they are losing their early momentum. By Harry Bamforth Oh, that's a big chance for Leon Bailey. Aston Villa have responded well to the early pressure and are starting to have a go themselves. Youri Tielemans clips the ball to Bailey at the back post and the winger gets a good header on the ball. But he can't keep it down and the ball sails over the bar. By Harry Bamforth Erm. .. Aston Villa are already time-wasting. It's only been 14 minutes, surely it's too early for things like that. I guess they just want to frustrate the Anfield crowd and so far it is certainly working. By Harry Bamforth That's much better from Aston Villa. They mount a break after a bizarre lofted pass is not dealt with by Andy Robertson. The ball is worked over to Ollie Watkins, who fancies his chances from outside the area. His strike flies over the bar, though. By Harry Bamforth Aston Villa are just sitting in tight and trying to ride this early Liverpool storm. They have barely been unable to get out of their own half as the Reds have wave, after wave, of attack. Not been the best of starts for the visitors. By Harry Bamforth Liverpool really are up for this. They play some lovely link-up play in the middle of the park before setting off on a blistering counter-attack. Trent Alexander-Arnold plays in Mo Salah who bursts through before cutting back don't his left. But his tame effort is blocked quite easily. By Harry Bamforth Ooooohhh. .. Liverpool have come flying out of the traps and Darwin Nunez already wants a penalty. He is played in by Mo Salah before being bundled over by Diego Carlos from behind. It's a silly challenge, but he gets away with it. By Harry Bamforth Anfield is well and truly bouncing. When it's like this, the games are usually very special. You feel that the fans know how important this match is after the Manchester City result. By Harry Bamforth 'You'll Never Walk Alone' is sung at its spine-tingling best, and it is poignant as the two teams pay their respects to those who died during the First World War. Anfield then falls silent as The Last Post is played. There is then a huge roar as the minute comes to an end and we are now ready to get going. This is going to be one hell of a match, I can feel. By Harry Bamforth Anfield is a cauldron of noise, it certainly has found its voice again tonight. The players are greeted by all four stands chanting in unison before sadly they are interrupted by the Premier League anthem. The crowd will be key tonight. If they are on from like they have been of late, Liverpool will have a huge boost. So far, it seems like they are up for it. By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Joe Bernstein At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Steve Mc Manaman, former Liverpool midfielder, on TNT Sports: By Harry Bamforth I think Aston Villa need to work on their time management skills. The visitors are still warming up and we are just 12 minutes from the game getting underway. Why? Well, it's because they only came out at 7: 35pm which is nearly 20 minutes later than they are meant to. So bizarre. I wonder why they did it. By Harry Bamforth I told you there were fans celebrating. Just look at this Liverpool supporter, he is absolutely buzzing that Manchester City have lost. However, I just can't believe that he is wearing only a t-shirt, it is pretty cold in here. Most people are wrapped up in coats, hats, and gloves. By Harry Bamforth I'm sorry to tell you, Aston Villa fans, but Unai Emery's recent record against Liverpool is not the best. I mean, it's really bad. Emery is winless in 10 competitive games against Liverpool since his first encounter with them, a 3-1 win with Sevilla in the 2016 Europa League final. Since then, his teams have only managed three points from seven league matches against the Reds. But stats are made to be broken, right? By Harry Bamforth Ohhh, hello. .. Liverpool fans around Anfield are cheering right now after they hear that Brighton have beaten Manchester City. The south coast side came from behind, scoring two goals in five minutes to topple the champions. City have now lost four matches on the spin, which is the first time a Pep Guardiola side has ever done that. If Liverpool win tonight, they go five points clear. By Harry Bamforth Ollie Watkins, Aston Villa striker, speaking to TNT Sports: By Harry Bamforth There is a buzz around Anfield today, you can just feel it. The fans have flocked to the stadium early and are really getting behind their team. The atmosphere on the red half of Merseyside has been brilliant of late and they will look to keep it up tonight. By Harry Bamforth Tonight is a special occasion for both of these teams. Well, I say it is but I bet neither set of players or even staff know this statistic I am about to share. This is the 100th time these two teams will do battle in all competitions, at Anfield. Liverpool have certainly had the better of it, they have beaten Villa 62 times while only losing 17. I wonder who will add to the victory column today. By Harry Bamforth If you were to ask most people what Liverpool's biggest change has been under Arne Slot, the majority would mention their defence. The Reds have been simply rock solid at the back under the Dutchman, thus far. They have the best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding only six goals from their first six matches. Not many teams can find a way past this Liverpool side, so Villa have a tough task ahead of them managing it. Clean sheets are the currency at Anfield. By Joe Bernstein At Anfield By Harry Bamforth The beloved Stat Packs are back! Our friends at Squawka have provided us with the goods once again as they take a deep dive into tonight's fixture. The statistic that stands out to me has to be just how many chances both teams are creating this season. If these stats tell me anything, it's that we are in for an entertaining evening. By Harry Bamforth Unai Emery, Aston Villa boss, speaking on Friday: By Harry Bamforth As Thin Lizzy sings - the 'Boys Are Back in Town'. The league leaders are in the building and they look fairly relaxed as they take to the dressing room. It seems with less hair that Mohamed Salah is able to wear a cap, a new look for him. I imagine he never really wore them when he had the brilliant afro. By Harry Bamforth Aston Villa's recent record at Anfield is not good viewing. They have only taken one point from a possible 18 on offer in their last six visits to Liverpool, stretching back to 2014. Sadly for Villa fans, that's not the only ominous statistic. The Villans have only managed to win one game against the Reds in their last 13 meetings. It was a memorable one, though. .. Yep, it was the magical 7-2 victory during the 2020-21 season, in which Ollie Watkins netted a hat-trick. How he would love to do the same today, eh? By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth It's a big night for Darwin Nunez. With Diogo Jota out once again, the Uruguayan has been trusted to lead the line. Nunez has had his moments this season, but still only has one Premier League goal to his name. To be a striker at a team going for the title, you need to score more, let's be honest. While he has been brilliant in linking up play and leading the press, Nunez will be desperate to find the back of the net. Can he do so tonight? By Harry Bamforth Aston Villa fans can breathe a sigh of relief. After worries that Youri Tielemans may be out today, he is actually fit enough to start for the Villans. Emery makes two changes from the side that were beaten heavily by Tottenham last week. One of the surprise omissions is John Mc Ginn as the captain drops to the bench with Leon Bailey coming in. The other is an enforced change as Diego Carlos starts instead of the injured Matty Cash. By Harry Bamforth Just the two changes for Liverpool then. The usual left-back rotation happens again as Andrew Robertson comes in for Kostas Tsimikas who has started the last two games. Meanwhile, Darwin Nunez also comes into the team with Cody Gakpo dropping to the bench after his goal in midweek. Happy with this side, Liverpool fans? By Lewis Steele At Anfield By Harry Bamforth Aston Villa have not been in the best of form recently, have they? They have lost three on the bounce in all competitions and have not won a Premier League match since 19 October. It's not often we have seen Unai Emery's side struggle like this, and we know it won't last forever. But they could not be visiting a harder place while in this form, with Liverpool flying at the moment. We have seen Villa spring surprises against big teams in the past, though, and they will be looking to do that here. Can they spring a surprise on Merseyside? By Harry Bamforth Arne Slot, Liverpool boss, speaking on Friday: By Harry Bamforth What a campaign Liverpool are having under Arne Slot, eh? Every Reds fan that I talk to can't believe the position they are in at this moment in time, and neither can I. Going into this weekend, Liverpool were two points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League, while also sitting at the summit of the Champions League. They have been on a roll, winning 14 of 16 matches in all competitions this season, with their only loss coming to Nottingham Forest in mid-September. Surely this run can't last forever. It will certainly be challenged today by an Aston Villa side who are in dire need of a victory. Can the Reds take another three points and stay top? By Harry Bamforth Well, this is new, isn't it? It's not often we are treated to late-night football on Saturday, so this is a real treat. It's a cracker of a match too, as Premier League leaders Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Anfield. These two sides certainly know how to entertain us and have delivered many belting matches in the past. I have a feeling that today will be no different. You are all going to want to strap yourselves in as this could be a rollercoaster of a night. So, I think it's now time to get this show on the road. Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group