Liverpool marked their return to Premier League action with a convincing 3-1 win over Aston Villa in the Boxing Day clash at Villa Park.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
A much-changed Liverpool side, with six changes made to the side that lost to Manchester City last time out in the EFL Cup, drew first blood in the game through Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian was teed up brilliantly by Andy Robertson who was found inside the box with a peach of a delivery from fellow full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Unai Emery’s side upped the pressure on the other end of the pitch as Liverpool’s man between the goalposts, Alisson Becker, was called into action to deny Watkins’ back-post header.
Joel Matip was deemed offside after he found the back of the net with a header from an Andy Robertson free-kick but Liverpool did not have to wait for long to double their lead.
Virgil van Dijk executed the deftest of finish to slot the ball past Robin Olsen following a Liverpool corner with Salah key to the build up.
Villa were looking to threaten in the opening stages of the second period as Watkins’ celebrations after scoring were halted due to a VAR check.
Watkins got the scoresheet before the hour mark and Liverpool’s lead was dealt a minor setback with Jurgen Klopp’s men looking to clinch the win.
It all came down to the 18-year-old substitute Stefan Bajcetic to bag his first senior goal in the Reds shirt with the midfielder coolly slotting home to rubber stamp the three points for his side.
