Mohamed Salah became the first player to reach double figures for both goals and assists for a big five European League side in all competitions this season following Liverpool 2-0 win against Aston Villa.
Salah scored Liverpool second goal as they opened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Nunez’s goal after a brilliant counterattack in the 20th minute set the tone at Anfield, and Manchester City’s earlier loss was the ideal pregame pick-me-up for Liverpool.
Goalie Caoimhin Kelleher made some crucial saves to keep Liverpool ahead, but Salah scored a spectacular goal in the 84th minute to seal the victory and continue their incredible start to the season under new manager Arne Slot.
Following the Dutchman’s close-season replacement of Juergen Klopp, they have won 15 of their last 17 games across all competitions.
With the defending champions City on 23, Liverpool will enter the international break with 28 points from 11 games.
Villa now sits in seventh place with 18 points after their third league loss of the year.
As the post-Klopp era continues to defy even the most hopeful predictions, Slot saluted the euphoric Anfield fans at the fulltime whistle, and they roared their approval.
Although a lively Villa team forced Liverpool to work hard, they were able to score more than two goals by combining a methodical approach with deadly counterattacking.
Nunez’s first goal came from a corner for Villa.
Salah was pushed into the Villa half by Virgil van Dijk’s pass as it was cleared, and even though Leon Bailey knocked him over, the ball went to Nunez, who turned Emiliano Martinez and hammered in a right-footed drive from a close angle.
Shortly after, Uruguayan Nunez should have made it 2-0 from a very identical situation.
Nunez sprinted clear as Liverpool again broke out of defence in spectacular manner, but with the goal at his mercy, he missed with his effort.
Villa replied effectively, as Kelleher, who has been so good without first-choice Alisson, deflected a glanced header from Amadou Onana.
Diego Carlos then attempted a close-range shot, but Kelleher made an incredible reflex save to block it.
After the interval, Villa appeared to have a chance to tie the score, but Salah’s eighth league goal of the season completely destroyed them.
