Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (AP Photo/Jon Super) Liverpool secured a 2-0 victory against Aston Villa in the Premier League, ending their four-game losing streak. Mohamed Salah achieved his 250th goal for the club, and Ryan Gravenberch added another goal to help the defending champions move up to third place in the standings.”I’m glad we are back on track now. It’s a very tricky season for us because we have a few new players, they are very good players, but they need time to adapt. We lost some players too. It takes time to adapt and know each other’s games, but everything will be fine,” said Salah. Liverpool manager Arne Slot’s decision to make multiple changes during Wednesday’s 3-0 League Cup loss to Crystal Palace increased pressure on the returning players to secure a win after six defeats in seven games across all competitions.”What I liked most was that I think everybody here felt the importance of the game. I’m talking about my players and I’m talking about the fans. From start to finish the players showed up,” said Slot.Liverpool faced early pressure when Morgan Rogers hit the post with a shot after five minutes. This continued their pattern of struggling in the opening 15 minutes, which had been evident in their previous four Premier League defeats.Villa initially showed strength in breaking through Liverpool’s defense but later struggled with their own defensive play. Dominik Szoboszlai missed an opportunity after taking the ball from Pau Torres, shooting directly at Martinez.Hugo Ekitike’s header goal was disallowed after VAR review showed he was offside from Szoboszlai’s cross. Martinez’s error then allowed Salah to score just before half-time, marking his 250th goal for Liverpool.Salah’s goal, his fifth of the season, places him as Liverpool’s third-highest scorer in club history, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. The goal also ended Liverpool’s streak of conceding first in seven consecutive games.Villa entered the match having won their previous four league games, including victories over Tottenham and Manchester City. They were level on points with Liverpool before the game.Gravenberch, who had missed the previous weekend’s 3-2 loss at Brentford due to an ankle injury, scored Liverpool’s second goal. His shot deflected off Pau Torres, deceiving Martinez.Liverpool achieved their first clean sheet in 11 games. The team now prepares for upcoming matches against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the Premier League.Liverpool’s recent poor form has created a significant challenge in their title defence against Arsenal. The victory reduced their gap behind Arsenal to seven points, providing a starting point for their return to the title race.
Joao Pedro lifts Chelsea to glory against Spurs
Joao Pedro ended his goal drought for Chelsea by scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 victory against Tottenham at their home stadium on Saturday.The Brazilian striker scored his first goal since August 30, when he last found the net against Fulham, breaking a nine-game goalless streak across all competitions.Since his £60 million transfer from Brighton during the transfer window, the 24-year-old has only managed to score three times for Chelsea.Chelsea moved to fourth place in the Premier League standings after securing their third win in four matches, trailing Tottenham only on goal difference.Tottenham’s struggles at home continue, as they haven’t secured a victory at their stadium since defeating Burnley in the season opener in August.Their poor home form in 2025 began under previous manager Ange Postecoglou and has persisted under Frank’s leadership.Despite a League Cup defeat at Newcastle, Tottenham’s away performances have been stronger, including a convincing 3-0 win at Everton in their last league match.Tottenham supporters are showing increasing dissatisfaction with Frank’s tactical approach, which differs from the club’s traditional attacking philosophy.An early setback occurred when Lucas Bergvall suffered a head injury and was replaced by Xavi Simons as a concussion substitute.Bergvall showed resistance to the medical staff’s decision, pushing one of them before Frank stepped in to calm the situation.Alejandro Garnacho posed Chelsea’s primary attacking threat in the first half, testing Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario with long-range attempts.Vicario recovered from a knee injury to make a crucial save, denying Joao Pedro after a defensive error by Pedro Porro.Joao Pedro broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, capitalising on Moises Caicedo’s pressure on Simons and Van de Ven to score from close range.Frank expressed his frustration with Tottenham’s defensive errors by kicking a water bottle on the sideline.Joao Pedro nearly doubled his tally, but Vicario saved his powerful shot following Malo Gusto’s assist.Rodrigo Bentancur received a yellow card for a challenge on Reece James, which could have warranted a more severe punishment.Mohammed Kudus tested Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez just before halftime, but his shot was well saved.After the break, Enzo Fernandez missed a clear opportunity, heading over from James’ cross from ten yards out.Tottenham’s possession problems continued in the second half, leading to growing frustration among their supporters.Vicario was forced to make another save from Pedro Neto’s powerful attempt, while Tottenham failed to mount a serious comeback in the closing stages.
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