Liverpool vs Aston Villa score, highlights, result as Szoboszlai strikes in convincing Premier League victory

David Lynch

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Liverpool vs Aston Villa score, highlights, result as Szoboszlai strikes in convincing Premier League victory image

ANFIELD, LIVERPOOL — Liverpool continued their strong start to the new Premier League season as they produced a dominant performance in beating Aston Villa 3-0.

The Reds raced into an early lead through Dominik Szoboszlai's third-minute, left-footed stunner, before increasing their advantage shortly after when Matty Cash put through his own goal.

And the three points were effectively sealed just before the hour mark, Mohamed Salah, who continues to be linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League, finishing from a corner from close range.

Victory leaves Jurgen Klopp's side on 10 points after a start that also saw them visit Newcastle United and Chelsea, suggesting an improvement on last season's disappointing showing can be expected.

Liverpool vs Aston Villa result

  Result Goalscorers
Liverpool 3 Szoboszlai (3'), Cash OG (22'), Salah (55')
Aston Villa 0 -

Lineups:

Liverpool: lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson — Szoboszlai, Jones, Mac Allister — Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Aston Villa: (3-4-3, right to left): Olsen (GK) — Konsa, Carlos, Torres — Cash, Luiz, Kamara, Digne — McGinn, Watkins, Diaby

Liverpool vs Aston Villa live updates, highlights, and commentary

FULLTIME: LIVERPOOL 3-0 ASTON VILLA

All over at Anfield and Liverpool claim the three points thanks to goals from Dominik Szoboszlai, Mohamed Salah and an own goal from Matty Cash.

Villa had some chances on the break but can have few complaints — they were well beaten in the end.

90th min: Four minutes to be added on.

87th min: More minutes for Wataru Endo, who comes in to replace Alexis Mac Allister in the holding role.

The Argentine has impressed there today, though you can see from his choice of passes sometimes that he's more at home in advanced positions where losing possession is not quite as important.

80th min: Liverpool turning this into a training game now, just passing the ball around at a leisurely pace to see out a hard-earned three points.

71st min: Trent Alexander-Arnold leaves the field after taking a knock, with Jarrell Quansah replacing him.

Klopp will hope that's nothing serious - the young Scouser has been at his creative best today.

64th min: A triple sub incoming for Liverpool, with Curtis Jones, Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz making way for Harvey Elliott, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota.

You perhaps wonder if the Reds' squad depth this season is a touch underrated. 

Villa, meanwhile, swap Leon Bailey for Nicolo Zaniolo as they look for a way back into this game.

55th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL GO 3-0 UP THROUGH SALAH!

The hosts have surely got the points in the bag after Salah taps in from close range following a Nunez flick-on from a corner.

All that noise about Al Ittihad won't go away, but the Egyptian is still at Anfield and still scoring goals.

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49th min: And now Liverpool nearly wrap it up!

Salah gets away down the right after another delicious Alexander-Arnold ball in behind and picks out Nunez at the back stick, but the Uruguayan can only direct it wide.

48th min: Huge chance for Villa following the restart!

Cash meets a Digne cross at the back post and heads it goalward, but Alisson shows typically strong wrists to put it behind for a corner.

Villa are claiming it crossed the line but the referee's watch says otherwise.

46th min: Back under way at Anfield, with Liverpool attacking the Kop in this second half.

HALFTIME: LIVERPOOL TAKE A TWO-GOAL LEAD INTO THE BREAK.

39th min: Nunez hits the bar!

The Uruguayan tries a chipped effort from a tight angle after latching onto a Salah pass that initially looks overhit, but is denied by the woodwork.

Moments earlier, Villa had threatened again thanks to a lovely crossfield ball, but Bailey made a mess of the finish from a pullback to let Liverpool off the hook.

33rd min: A good chance for Villa on the counter as Gomez wins a challenge against Diaby but then somehow lets the ball escape him.

However, McGinn is the man arriving on the left-hand side to strike and smashes his effort over the bar.

27th min: Alexander-Arnold drifts in a free-kick delivery from the left and Matip has the freedom of the box to head it home... but he can only touch it wide.

Huge opportunity to put this game to bed - he really should have done better.

22nd min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL DOUBLE THEIR ADVANTAGE!

Salah skips away in behind down the right to gently tee up Nunez for a powerful finish from close range and, while the Uruguayan's effort doesn't beat the post, it cannons back onto Cash who inadvertently puts through his own net.

The stadium announcer rather generously gives that to Liverpool's No.9 but there's no doubting it was an own goal.

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19th min: A break in play now as Diego Carlos receives treatment after going down in the Villa box.

He won't be able to continue and, rather than throw in another defender, Emery changes the shape and introduces Leon Bailey.

11th min: First signs of threat from Villa as Diaby sneaks in behind a disjointed Liverpool backline before playing a low cross in that is begging to be hammered home.

Unfortunately for Villa, it eludes Watkins at the far post, and Szoboszlai slides in to clear at the edge of the box.

3rd min: GOAL! SZOBOSZLAI GIVES LIVERPOOL THE LEAD!

The hosts get their noses in front nice and early at Anfield and it's thanks to summer signing Dominik Szoboszlai. 

An Alexander-Arnold corner delivery passes everyone in the box but the Reds' new No.8 is picking up the scraps and fires in a brilliantly controlled left-footed finish into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

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2nd min: Interestingly, it looks to be Alexis Mac Allister in the No.6 position in these early stages, with Curtis Jones playing in a more advanced role on the left-hand side of a three.

KICKOFF: ASTON VILLA GET US UNDER WAY!

5 mins to kickoff: Here come the players again, emerging to a warm reception from both sets of supporters.

With Virgil van Dijk suspended, Trent Alexander-Arnold wears the captain's armband for the hosts today.

30 mins to kickoff: Both sides are out for their warm-ups at an Anfield that is bathed in sunshine.

Aston Villa gave Liverpool real trouble during a 1-1 draw here late last season - can they repeat that performance against a rather different looking Reds side?

1 hour to kickoff: The team news is in! Some big calls from Klopp, who goes with the fit-again Curtis Jones over Wataru Endo in the holding role as well as the in-form Darwin Nunez in the centre-forward position.

Aston Villa, meanwhile, are unchanged from their victory over Burnley.

Check out the full line-ups above.

1.5 hours to kickoff: Jurgen Klopp full of praise for Unai Emery in his programme notes, writing: "I have written on these pages before about the respect I have for the work of Unai Emery and you only need to look at the incredible job he has done since taking over at Villa to understand why.

"Everyone knows that Villa play in claret and blue but they could wear any colours they like right now and anyone who watches football would be able to say they are an Unai team."

2 hours to kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Liverpool vs. Aston Villa!

Reds fans will be hoping it's not the last time they see Salah in a Liverpool shirt with the Egyptian the subject of interest from Saudi Arabia and their transfer window still open for a few more days.

If he scores a hat-trick here today...up his price tag to £300m?!

Liverpool vs Aston Villa lineups, team news

With Virgil van Dijk suspended and Ibrahima Konate still injured, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip start in defence, while last weekend's match-winner Darwin Nunez comes in up top.

Liverpool lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Alisson (GK) — Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Gomez, Robertson — Szoboszlai, Jones, Mac Allister — Salah, Nunez, Diaz

Subs: Kelleher, Endo, Gakpo, Elliott, Jota, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, Doak, Quansah.

Emery is still dealing with a lengthy injury list including Tyrone Mings, Emi Buendia and Jacob Ramsey. The visitors are unchanged from winning at Burnley.

Aston Villa: (3-4-3, right to left): Olsen (GK) — Konsa, Carlos, Torres — Cash, Luiz, Kamara, Digne — McGinn, Watkins, Diaby

Subs: Olsen, Tielemans, Chambers, Lenglet, Zaniolo, Duran, Bailey, Dendoncker, Kellyman.

MORE: Watch Premier League matches live with Fubo in USA

Liverpool vs Aston Villa live stream, TV channel

Here's how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

Region TV Streaming
USA NBC USA Network, Telemundo Fubo, NBC app/website, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada —

Fubo Canada

UK — —
Australia — Optus Sport
India Star Sports Select 1 Hotstar VIP,
JioTV
Hong Kong Now Premier League 1 (Ch.620-621) Now TV
Malaysia Astro Supersport Astro Go, sooka
Singapore Hub Premier 1(Ch.221), Hub Premier 3 (Ch.223) StarHub TV+
New Zealand Sky Sport 4 NZ Sky Sport NOW

UK: This match has not been selected for broadcast in the UK with Sky Sports covering Crystal Palace vs. Wolves.

USA: This game is available on the NBC USA Network, with streaming available on Fubo, and Spanish language options via Telemundo.

Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via Fubo in Canada, with discounts currently at more than 9% for annual plans and more than 20% for quarterly and monthly plans. 

Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.

David Lynch

David Lynch Photo

David Lynch is a freelance football journalist primarily covering Liverpool FC. He has reported on the the Reds for over a decade for publications such as the Sunday Mirror and Evening Standard, carving out a reputation as a trusted voice on all things Anfield in the process. Having followed Liverpool across England and Europe over the course of his career, David has filed from illustrious venues such as Camp Nou, the Allianz Arena and the Estadio do Dragao, as well as from multiple Champions League finals.