Liverpool close to the top 4 in the Premier League

Being eliminated in the League Cup after losing to Man City last week, Liverpool focused all of their attention on the Premier League - where coach Jurgen Klopp asked his students to reach the top 4 at all costs. The determination of the Merseyside team. shown in the first round after the World Cup. Without many pillars due to injury, Liverpool still won 3-1 at Villa Park. Thus, Klopp's teachers and students are five points away from the fourth-ranked team Tottenham, but played less than one match.

Liverpool took the lead in the fifth minute. Trent Alexander-Arnold accurate long pass for Andy Robertson to create a touch for Mohamed Salah to score a goal from close range. The goal helped Salah equal the record for most goalscorers for Liverpool in the Premier League, with the same 55 goals as Michael Owen. Robertson became the defender with the most assists in tournament history, with 54 times.

Being led early, Aston Villa was forced to play a double attack with Liverpool. The open game saw many opportunities for both sides, especially from the away team. Darwin Nunez played the most aggressive in the Liverpool attack, but also missed the most opportunities.

However, Klopp's students still found the second goal at the end of the half. From a messy situation after the corner, midfielder Virgil Van Dijk quickly shot into the far corner, doubling the lead for Liverpool. The goal made Liverpool easier to kick for the next 20 minutes, and if Salah was luckier, the score could have been 3-0 at the beginning of the second half.

But when the game was good, Liverpool suddenly let striker Ollie Watkins shorten the score for Aston Villa. A header in the 59th minute gave Watkins his fifth goal against Liverpool, more than any opponent he has faced in the Premier League.

The fragile gap did not stop coach Klopp from launching young elements into the field. One of them shone in the 81st minute, ending Aston Villa's hopes. At 18 years and 65 days, Stefan Bajcetic is the third youngest player in Liverpool history to score at the tournament, after Michael Owen and Raheem Sterling.

Another talent, even younger than Bajcetic, was given a chance by Klopp at the end of the game. Ben Doak made his Premier League debut in the 88th minute, and became the youngest Scottish player to play in the league at 17 years and 45 days.

For the first time in the Premier League this season, Liverpool won three consecutive matches. Klopp's teachers and students still have one match in 2022, when they take on Leicester in the next round. Aston Villa, the team stomping on 12th place, will be a guest at Tottenham at the beginning of the new year.