Mohamed Salah scored as Liverpool easily defeated Aston Villa to maintain their impressive start to the Premier League season and put rumours about his future in the rearview mirror.
The Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad made a £150 million offer for the Egypt international, but Jurgen Klopp’s team rejected it, stating that the 31-year-old is not for sale.
When Salah scored Liverpool’s third goal in the second half at Anfield, finishing at the back post from Darwin Nunez’s cross to secure a third straight league victory, he further demonstrated his value to the club.
After just three minutes, Dominik Szoboszlai gave the hosts a boost by scoring his first goal for the team with a precise strike through a packed box.
Villa were way too open at the back as they battled to contain Liverpool’s strikers, despite the fact that they had been scoring goals like crazy since losing 5-1 to Newcastle in their season opener.
When Nunez’s shot hit the post and bounced in off the unfortunate Matty Cash in the 22nd minute, the hosts doubled their advantage.
In a raging first half, Liverpool appeared poised to score on every attack, but Villa’s situation was made worse by a forced substitution as centre-back Diego Carlos hobbled out with an injury after just 20 seconds.
The energetic Nunez also came close to scoring his third goal in as many outings, but his shot hit the crossbar.
Salah’s second goal of the year sealed a victory that took Liverpool up to third in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Manchester City. Keeper Alisson made a fantastic save to push out Cash’s header in the second half, but Salah’s second goal of the season sealed the win.
