Liverpool Player Ratings vs Aston Villa – Reds Back to Winning Ways at Anfield (2–0)
Liverpool ended their four-game Premier League losing streak with a confident 2–0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield. Goals from Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch secured a much-needed three points, lifting Arne Slot’s side back into the top four and restoring belief ahead of a challenging run of fixtures.
Here’s how each Liverpool player performed in the victory:
Starting XI
Giorgi Mamardashvili – 7/10
Produced key saves from Cash and Rogers in the first half and was alert when Villa threatened early. Enjoyed a relatively quiet second period, exuding calmness throughout.
Conor Bradley – 7/10
Tested by McGinn’s persistence but handled himself well, especially with a crucial recovery challenge on Guessand. His pace and work rate helped stabilize the right flank.
Ibrahima Konaté – 6/10
Started solidly but had one lapse that nearly gifted Villa a chance. Recovered well after the break and avoided further mistakes.
Virgil van Dijk – 7/10
A commanding presence at the back. Made a vital block to deny Guessand and marshaled the defense with authority. Played a key role in initiating attacks from deep.
Andy Robertson – 7/10
Looked sharp on his return to form. Supported the attack with overlapping runs and delivered a few dangerous crosses. Also handled his defensive duties efficiently.
Ryan Gravenberch – 8/10
Brought energy and drive to midfield after his injury layoff. Covered plenty of ground, linked play intelligently, and saw his deflected effort seal the win. A reminder of what Liverpool had been missing.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10
More mobile and composed than in recent outings. Used possession effectively and registered the assist for Gravenberch’s goal. A tidy, controlled performance.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 9/10 ⭐
Man of the Match. Operating as a No. 10, Szoboszlai was sensational — leading the press, dictating tempo, and constantly threatening between the lines. His set-piece delivery was dangerous, and his only blemish was missing a chance after stealing possession from Torres. A complete midfield display.
Mohamed Salah – 8/10
Tormented Digne down the right and pounced on Martinez’s blunder to score his 250th career goal. Grew stronger as the game went on, combining well with Szoboszlai and Mac Allister.
Cody Gakpo – 7/10
Started slowly but grew into the game, using his strength to retain possession and drawing fouls in key areas. Played an important role in stretching Villa’s defense.
Hugo Ekitiké – 6/10
Struggled to link up with teammates early on but improved after halftime with better movement and awareness. Substituted late on.
Substitutes
Florian Wirtz (for Ekitiké, 76’) – 6/10
Deployed as a false nine for the closing stages. Kept the ball well and linked up intelligently, though with limited time to make an impact.
Manager: Arne Slot – 8/10
Got his tactics spot-on. The pressing structure returned, midfield balance was restored, and the team looked mentally sharper. A big step forward after recent disappointments.
Verdict:
A composed, professional performance that reminded fans of Liverpool’s potential under Slot. Szoboszlai’s brilliance, Salah’s milestone, and Gravenberch’s energy were the highlights of a night that might just mark the start of another Anfield resurgence.
