Aston Villa vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and final score after Stefan Bajcetic wraps up win

Aston Villa 1-3 Liverpool: Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk put Liverpool in control but the Reds needed Bajcetic’s strike to seal the win after Ollie Watkins pulled one back

Klopp: 'We consider ourselves in punching distance so we have to chase.'

Liverpool beat Aston Villa 3-1 on Monday thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Stefan Bajcetic to go sixth in the Premier League during a game littered with chances.

Striker Salah tapped in the visitors’ opener in the fifth minute after a sublime passing move from marauding wing-backs Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson. Defender van Dijk bagged Liverpool’s second in the 37th minute with a superb left-footed shot after being set up by Salah, who would have been proud of the finish.

Ollie Watkins put Villa back in the game with a smart 59th minute header across goalkeeper Alisson Becker, before 18-year-old midfielder Bajcetic squeezed in Liverpool’s third - his first senior goal - to secure the win in the 81st minute.

Goalscoring opportunities came aplenty for both teams as they peppered each other with high balls over the defences. Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez was a nuisance throughout, missing a string of chances including a well-saved volley after he plucked the ball from high over his shoulder.

The result left Aston Villa in 12th place on 18 points, while Liverpool are on 25 points, one behind old rivals Manchester United in fifth but a daunting 12 behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, who were playing later on Monday.

Aston Villa vs Liverpool

• FT! Liverpool move back to sixth after winning three PL games in a row for first time this season
• 81’ GOAL! Substitute Stefan Bajcetic, 18, scores first senior goal to add Liverpool’s third (VIL 1-3)
• 75’ CHANCE! Nunez put through by Salah but can’t kill the game off for Liverpool (VIL 1-2 LIV)
• 59’ GOAL! Watkins pulls one back with guided header as Villa pressure pays off (VIL 1-2 LIV)
• 46’ NO GOAL! Watkins finishes past Alisson but strike disallowed for offside (VIL 0-2 LIV)
• 37’ GOAL! Van Dijk doubles Liverpool’s lead from corner with help from Konsa deflection (VIL 0-2 LIV)
• 17’ CHANCES! Bailey and Watkins both miss opportunities as Villa respond well (VIL 0-1 LIV)
• 5’ GOAL! Salah opens scoring following Robertson cross and stunning Alexander-Arnold pass (VIL 0-1 LIV)

[26 December 2022 21:51 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

87 mins: Close! Saka swings the ball into the six-yard area where Saliba rises and turns the ball towards goal. Fabianski leaps towards him and deflects the ball with his fist resulting in another corner for Arsenal.

West Ham deal with this second effort more competently.

[26 December 2022 21:48 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

84 mins: Zinchenko threads the ball up to Odegaard on the inside right who flicks the ball on for Saka. Saka brings it into the penalty area before looking to pull it back for Xhaka.

Dawson gets in the way though and turns the ball behind for a corner.

[26 December 2022 21:46 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

81 mins: Chance! Ben White gets forward on the right wing bringing the ball to the byline before getting tackled by a back-tracking Said Benrahma.

Benrahma brings the ball to the edge of the box and attempts a step-over but has it nicked off him by Martin Odegaard who checks to the left and shoots but smokes his effort well wide of the far post.

[26 December 2022 21:44 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

78 mins: Martin Odegaard has become the 11th player from Norway to reach double figures in both goals and assists in the Premier League. He’s now got 14 goals and 10 assists for Arsenal.

David Moyes makes a change and brings Pablo Fornals on to replace Tomas Soucek.

[26 December 2022 21:40 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

75 mins: West Ham are growing increasingly frustrated. Ben White receives the ball and dribbles his way up the pitch holding off Said Benrahma who has two or three attempts to recover it.

Eventually the referee decides Benrahma is being too forceful and awards Arsenal a free kick.

[26 December 2022 21:38 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

72 mins: Kieran Tierney’s decent night comes to an end as Oleksandr Zinchenko gets a run out of near 20 minutes. The left back is just returning from injury and will give Arsenal a boost when fully fit again.

As it stands the Gunners are moving seven points clear at the top of the table.

[26 December 2022 21:32 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 West Ham (Nketiah, 69’)⚽️

69 mins: Lovely goal! A cross field pass comes over to Ben White who brings the ball under control and cuts inside of Said Benrahma.

White gives it to Martin Odegaard who sends the ball into the box for Eddie Nketiah. The forward spins off Thilo Kehrer’s shoulder before lacing a shot back across the box and earning Arsenal a two-goal lead!

[26 December 2022 21:30 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 2-1 West Ham

65 mins: West Ham have been passive in the second half which has allowed Arsenal the freedom to get those two goals. The Hammers need to step up a gear and take the attack to the Gunners.

Jarrod Bowen curls a corner ball into the penalty area but William Saliba gets highest and nods the ball clear.

[26 December 2022 21:27 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 2-1 West Ham

62 mins: Arsenal have got themselves in front but it’s doubtful that they’ll settle for just two goals. They’ll want at least one more to take all the pressure off and the Gunners are ramping up the pressure.

Martinelli swings a corner into the box but doesn’t beat the first defender.

[26 December 2022 21:22 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 West Ham (Martinelli, 59’)⚽️

59 mins: Turnaround! Saka recovers the ball deep in West Ham’s half and passes it square to Odegaard who works it across to Xhaka.

Xhaka assesses his options before slipping the ball into the left side of the box for Martinelli who drills a low effort towards goal and beats Fabianski at the near post.

Arsenal take the lead.