Liverpool beat Aston Villa and regain sixth place

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Pejsic to move into sixth place in the English Premier League on Monday.

Salah gave the visitors the lead after five minutes, after two wonderful passes between full-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson.

Defender Van Dyck added the second goal in the 37th minute with a powerful left-footed shot, following a pass from Salah.

Ollie Watkins reduced the deficit for the home side with a wonderful header into goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s far corner in the 59th minute.

18-year-old Bectic sealed Liverpool’s victory nine minutes before full time, scoring his first goal for the first team.

The two teams had chances in an entertaining game, relying on long balls behind the defenders.

Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez missed many chances, including a direct shot saved by the Villa goalkeeper.

Villa remained in 12th place and have 18 points, against Liverpool’s 25 points, who are one point behind fifth-table rivals Manchester United, and 12 points behind leaders Arsenal, who face West Ham United in a second moment.