Szoboszlai and Salah score as Liverpool ease past Villa
Reds continue their good early season form
03 September 2023 - 20:05
byLori Ewing
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Dominik Szoboszlai of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the team's first goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Aston Villa at Anfield in Liverpool, England, September 3 2023. Picture: MATT MCNULTY/GETTY IMAGES
Liverpool — Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first goal for Liverpool and Mohamed Salah netted his seventh in seven games against Aston Villa as the hosts eased to a 3-0 Premier League victory at Anfield on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp's side, who have won 10 of their last 12 matches against Villa, climbed to third in the table on 10 points from four games. Villa have six points.
“We did quite OK, quick to 2-0 and came out good and scored a goal in the second half too,” Szoboszlai told the BBC.
Two days after Liverpool reportedly rejected a £150m bid for Salah by South Arabian club Al-Ittihad, the Reds talisman netted goal number 188 of his Liverpool career with a toe poke at the back post in the 55th minute off Darwin Nunez’s headed flick from a corner.
“You know it is football everyone is talking,” Szoboszlai said about Salah's future. “We are really happy that he has stayed. We are of course speaking between each other but he wants to stay, he wants to be here and be with us. We are really happy — we need people in the team like him.”
Klopp, who managed his 300th Liverpool game on Sunday, shot down rumours about Salah’s departure before kickoff.
“This was a media story and it never came true,” the German manager told Sky Sports. “I have a big desk in my office with a lot of papers on there, I have a laptop, iPad, everything that you need and none of them are busy with this kind of news.”
Szoboszlai had given Liverpool a dream start with a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the 18-yard box after three minutes.
“It is a special moment,” said the Hungarian, who arrived from Leipzig over the summer. “If you score your first goal for Liverpool at Anfield it is always special. I am looking forward to getting even more.
“We knew if we come out and we think the game is over we were going to be in trouble but we wanted to score another one quick,” he said. “We came out and score another and just enjoy it.”
Liverpool doubled their lead when Nunez’s firm shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off Villa defender Matty Cash.
Liverpool never let up, helped by a surprisingly sloppy performance from Villa, who are now winless in their last six league visits to Anfield.
Nunez had a couple of scoring chances including one moments before halftime that hit the woodwork, and Trent Alexander-Arnold gave a master class in midfield before limping off with a potential injury in the second half.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Szoboszlai and Salah score as Liverpool ease past Villa
Reds continue their good early season form
Liverpool — Dominik Szoboszlai scored his first goal for Liverpool and Mohamed Salah netted his seventh in seven games against Aston Villa as the hosts eased to a 3-0 Premier League victory at Anfield on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp's side, who have won 10 of their last 12 matches against Villa, climbed to third in the table on 10 points from four games. Villa have six points.
“We did quite OK, quick to 2-0 and came out good and scored a goal in the second half too,” Szoboszlai told the BBC.
Two days after Liverpool reportedly rejected a £150m bid for Salah by South Arabian club Al-Ittihad, the Reds talisman netted goal number 188 of his Liverpool career with a toe poke at the back post in the 55th minute off Darwin Nunez’s headed flick from a corner.
“You know it is football everyone is talking,” Szoboszlai said about Salah's future. “We are really happy that he has stayed. We are of course speaking between each other but he wants to stay, he wants to be here and be with us. We are really happy — we need people in the team like him.”
Klopp, who managed his 300th Liverpool game on Sunday, shot down rumours about Salah’s departure before kickoff.
“This was a media story and it never came true,” the German manager told Sky Sports. “I have a big desk in my office with a lot of papers on there, I have a laptop, iPad, everything that you need and none of them are busy with this kind of news.”
Szoboszlai had given Liverpool a dream start with a left-footed half-volley from the edge of the 18-yard box after three minutes.
“It is a special moment,” said the Hungarian, who arrived from Leipzig over the summer. “If you score your first goal for Liverpool at Anfield it is always special. I am looking forward to getting even more.
“We knew if we come out and we think the game is over we were going to be in trouble but we wanted to score another one quick,” he said. “We came out and score another and just enjoy it.”
Liverpool doubled their lead when Nunez’s firm shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off Villa defender Matty Cash.
Liverpool never let up, helped by a surprisingly sloppy performance from Villa, who are now winless in their last six league visits to Anfield.
Nunez had a couple of scoring chances including one moments before halftime that hit the woodwork, and Trent Alexander-Arnold gave a master class in midfield before limping off with a potential injury in the second half.
Reuters
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