Overview
- Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield, with Mohamed Salah scoring after an Emiliano Martínez error and Ryan Gravenberch adding a second.
- Ollie Watkins recorded no shots, completed nine passes and made 18 touches, extending a run of one goal in his last 14 matches in all competitions.
- Ashley Williams said Villa were fixated on short build-up play and ignored opportunities to go long to Watkins, calling the approach slow and predictable.
- Wayne Rooney questioned how Unai Emery is using Watkins, arguing Villa played into Liverpool’s high press instead of exploiting the striker’s channel-running strengths.
- Emile Heskey suggested last season’s choice to start loanee Marcus Rashford in key games may have dented Watkins’ confidence, while urging Villa’s forwards to deliver more goals.