The 3 best Liverpool players as they scrape a 1-0 win vs Aston Villa

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Liverpool won 1-0 vs Aston Villa on a difficult Saturday afternoon at Anfield. Here are our picks for the Reds’ three best players on the day.

Joel Matip

The Reds struggled to break through in the first half but Joel Matip played a huge part in their control. While Liverpool couldn’t quite find those clear-cut chances, they managed to keep the pressure on by nullifying Aston Villa on the counter.

Matip did that as well as anyone, winning more headers than anyone in the game (6) and doing so at a 100% success rate. Villa just couldn’t get up the pitch as a result.

And Matip won interceptions, moved the ball well and was just an all-around comfort at the back. While things weren’t necessarily flying up top, Matip made sure things were safe at the back.

Andy Robertson

No one worked harder in this game than Andy Robertson. He was a permanent option for Liverpool vs Villa, stretching them as far as they’d go.

His work rate was astonishing at times – the midweek break showing itself – as he made himself available going forward. The Scot created three Liverpool chances against Villa, boasting more touches than anyone. The team needed him as an outball and Robertson was happy to oblige.

The fact he things quiet down his flank defensively shows off that work rate – Liverpool can’t ask for much more than this. Very unlucky not to get an assist here because Robertson certainly put the work in.

Mohamed Salah

In a lot of ways, Mohamed Salah was actually pretty poor here. Very few worked for him, there were some questionable decisions and he was far more quiet than Sadio Mane.

And yet, Salah was the one who finally forced Villa into a mistake to get Liverpool the lead. There’s no win here without him – hardly the first time we’ve said that this season.

Salah put Tyrone Mings into a panic – a player who had an excellent game up to that point – winning a penalty that he converted himself. Not his most spectacular goal of the season but enough for the points here.

Stats per Whoscored.