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 22:28 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal move seven points clear as Eddie Nketiah caps comeback win against West Ham

Eddie Nketiah scored on his first start for Arsenal this season as the Premier League leaders completed a 3-1 comeback win over West Ham.

The hosts dominated possession in the first half but were frustrated as Said Benrahma’s spot-kick was the only goal at the break.

But the Gunners regrouped and Bukayo Saka struck the equaliser eight minutes after the restart before Gabriel Martinelli fired Arsenal ahead.

Nketiah’s goal in the 69th minute ensured the Gunners secured all three points and equalled their longest-ever Premier League home winning streak with their 10th straight victory at the Emirates.

[26 December 2022 22:24 · Michael Jones]

FT Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

Today was the second time Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard has provided two assists in a single Premier League game, with the previous occasion also coming on Boxing Day, last season against Norwich.

(Action Images via Reuters)

[26 December 2022 22:20 · Michael Jones]

FT Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

Eddie Nketiah has scored 11 goals in his last 11 starts for Arsenal in all competitions at the Emirates, notching his 11 goals from just 16 shots on target.

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2022 22:16 · Michael Jones]

Jurgen Klopp wants Liverpool to be ‘pain in the backside’ for top-four rivals

Jurgen Klopp vowed Liverpool will be a “pain in the backside” in the race for the Champions League.

Stefan Bajcetic’s first goal wrapped up a 3-1 win at Aston Villa on Boxing Day after first-half efforts from Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk.

Ollie Watkins pulled one back after the break but Villa missed a hatful of chances – with Watkins and Leon Bailey guilty.

Liverpool remain sixth in the Premier League but closed the gap on Tottenham in fourth to five points and Klopp knows what they must do.

[26 December 2022 22:12 · Michael Jones]

FT Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

Bukayo Saka (2020, 2021 & 2022) is the first Arsenal player to score in three successive Boxing Day matches since Thierry Henry (2002, 2003 & 2004).

(REUTERS)

[26 December 2022 22:08 · Michael Jones]

Stefan Bajcetic’s first Liverpool goal wraps up Boxing Day victory at Aston Villa

In a meeting of monarchs, Liverpool’s Egyptian King now sits alongside King Kenny. For Mohamed Salah, 172 Liverpool goals means he has as many as the revered Kenny Dalglish, and in 238 fewer games.

For Liverpool, Salah’s landmark strike was accompanied by an assist to show that, like Dalglish before him, he is far more than simply a finisher. Virgil van Dijk was the beneficiary and, until Stefan Bajcetic made it a day of scorers old and new with his first Liverpool goal, the Dutchman also had to be at his most defiant to secure victory at Villa Park.

It was just Liverpool’s second on the road in the Premier League this season and, like November’s triumph at Tottenham, indicated that they have regained the ability to prevail when subjected to intense pressure.

Aston Villa’s first league defeat under Unai Emery was only inflicted after a frenzied effort, full of openings at either end, and with a performance to suggest the Spaniard’s debut win over Manchester United was no fluke.

[26 December 2022 22:04 · Michael Jones]

FT Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

Arsenal are striding forward in their quest to lift the Premier League trophy and their young players are leading the way.

(Getty Images)

(PA)

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2022 22:00 · Michael Jones]

Full-time: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

90+4 mins: Arsenal had to fight and come from behind in order to see off West Ham but three second half goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah sees them hold onto their lead at the top of the Premier League table.

They are now seven points clear of Newcastle in second place and eight ahead of Manchester City who face Leeds on Wednesday.

[26 December 2022 21:58 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

90+3 mins: Save! Thomas Partey is too slow to react as Pablo Fornals receives the ball inside the Arsenal half. He shifts it onto his right foot and hits a powerful shot towards the far top corner.

Aaron Ramsdale sees it late but leaps across and palms the ball wide with a strong right hand!

[26 December 2022 21:54 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

90 mins: Gabriel Martinelli receives a very warm welcome as he heads off the pitch to be replaced by Fabio Vieira for the final few minutes.

There’s going to be four minutes of stoppage time added on.