Follow live coverage as Liverpool face Aston Villa today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Liverpool FC 2 - 0 Aston Villa FC
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
22:04A seventh straight win at Anfield takes Liverpool five points clear atop the Premier League table, as they sign off for the international break with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Aston Villa. Slot strides to his 15th win in 17 games since succeeding Jurgen Klopp, and his team were good value for their latest success. Not only did they dominate possession against an ailing Villa side - who have lost four on the bounce under Emery for the first time - but their final xG was 2.02 to the visitors' 1.5 by the final whistle. A couple of smart Kelleher stops aside, Villa rarely threatened to equalise an early Nunez goal, and Salah struck late on to cap off another fine week for the Reds. They visit Southampton in their first game back after the break, while Aston Villa will host Crystal Palace. That's all from Anfield today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:56FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 ASTON VILLA
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:54There are just four minutes of stoppage time separating Liverpool from victory now, and their supporters are in full voice. It's been a chastening second half for Villa, who have hardly laid a glove on their hosts.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:52Kelleher claims the ball and sparks another quick counter with a prompt throw, but Liverpool eventually get bogged down in midfield and decide to keep possession instead. That's how they've controlled this game.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:50Once again, Liverpool have punished their visitors on the counter, and that clinical finish from Salah is set to send them five points clear at the Premier League summit. The home fans celebrate by serenading Slot.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:48Substitution Alexis Mac Allister Wataru Endō
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:45Since making several substitutions, Aston Villa's attacking threat has certainly increased, and they'll surely have to take some risks if they are to draw themselves level. Liverpool are defending compactly, though, and seem quite comfortable.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:45Goal Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:44McGinn almost picks out Duran with a raking ball across from the left wing, but Van Dijk extends a long leg and prods it behind for a corner. Villa play it short, and McGinn's inswinging delivery is sent looping onto the top of Liverpool's net by a sliding Philogene.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:43Tielemans sends in a corner-kick from the left, which Konate virtually heads out of Kelleher's hands inside the six-yard box. The follow-up corner is cleared, so Villa will have a third in quick succession.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:40Villa counter-attack after defending a corner, with Maatsen and Duran linking up to play in their fellow sub Philogene. However, a loose touch takes the latter into traffic and Liverpool snuff out any danger.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:38Yellow Card Boubacar Bernard Kamara
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:37As in several recent games, Aston Villa just can't find any rhythm in the final third, and they've managed just one attempt since half-time - that was an off-target shot by Rogers just seconds after the restart.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:36Substitution Amadou Ba Zeund Georges Mvom Onana Boubacar Bernard Kamara
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:35Substitution Lucas Digne Ian Ethan Maatsen
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:35Liverpool's free-kick comes to nothing, and Martinez ultimately collects the ball. Within seconds, though, Robertson lofts a lovely ball over the top for Gakpo, who cuts inside from the left and lashes a shot well wide of the target.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:33McGinn is penalised for using his lower body to usher Salah off the ball, and Liverpool win a free-kick in a threatening area. They will have a set-piece from 30 yards out, near the right touchline.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:31Slot has already become just the fifth manager to win as many as eight of his first 10 Premier League games in charge - a club including ex-Villa boss John Gregory (1998) - and number nine is now just minutes from his grasp. Liverpool could take at least a five-point lead into their upcoming clash with Manchester City, so it's vital they hold on to this lead.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:26Substitution Oliver George Arthur Watkins Jhon Jader Durán Palacio
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:26Substitution Darwin Gabriel Núñez Ribeiro Cody Mathès Gakpo
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:26Liverpool have decided to pass their way to the finish line, starving Aston Villa of the ball. Before the interval they had a 61% share of possession, and that's risen to 78% in the second half.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:26Substitution Leon Patrick Bailey Butler Jaden Richard Philogene-Bidace
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:24A nice turn by Van Dijk beats Bailey on the left wing and tees up Nunez to strike at goal once again. The Uruguay striker hits it firm and true from 20 yards out, but it fizzes straight into the safe gloves of Martinez.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:22NO PENALTY! Pretty swiftly, the VAR decides that Bradley didn't foul Torres in the penalty area, so Villa won't have a spot-kick. The home fans breathe again!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:21VILLA PENALTY? Digne delivers a free-kick from the left wing, which Bradley meets first and hacks away from immediate danger. However, the VAR has picked up a possible handball and will take another look!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:19Aston Villa are up against it now, as they keep meeting a red wall on the edge of Liverpool's area. This season, the Reds have conceded the fewest goals (six) and had recorded the lowest xG against figure (8.1) after 10 Premier League matchdays, and you can see why.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:16There's another period of controlled possession for the hosts, who are keen to keep Villa's fleet-footed attackers at arm's length. The away side have actually had 10 attempts but have only guided two on target - Kelleher saved both.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:14Nunez has attempted five shots in 50 minutes, which is the first time he's hit that mark in one Premier League game since facing Manchester United on 7th April. A little more accuracy and he would've had a hat-trick.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:12There could - perhaps should - have been two goals already in this second half, which promises a more open game between now and the final whistle. Surely Villa won't take another loss lying down?
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:11WIDE! Diaz and Robertson combine on the left, and the latter whips over an excellent cross to the near post. Nunez meets it with a header, but he guides the ball just wide of the left-hand upright - he really should've scored!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:09MISS! Straight after the restart, Rogers shoots narrowly wide from a great position on the left of Liverpool's area! He hits it low, but the ball zips just past the far post!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:07Aston Villa kick off, and we are back under way at Anfield!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
21:01Opta's live win predictor has the visitors' chances of victory down at 5% now, but even that seems optimistic given a quick look at the history books: Liverpool are unbeaten across their last 144 Premier League games when leading at half-time (winning 131), since a 4-3 loss to Bournemouth in December 2016. Not only that, but they have also lost just one of their last 274 when ahead at Anfield.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:58A lethal counter-attack spearheaded by Salah and ended by Nunez - on his 100th Liverpool appearance - sees the hosts leading 1-0 at half-time against Aston Villa. The Premier League leaders are pursuing the prize of finishing up for the international break with a five-point advantage, and they are firmly on course to do so, following a dominant first-half showing. In fact, the Reds were at their most dangerous when countering Villa's set-pieces, having otherwise kept control of the ball. Villa were twice denied by saves from Kelleher, so their xG of 0.98 actually exceeds Liverpool's (0.79) so far, but they can have few complaints about trailing. As things stand, Emery's men are bound for a fourth straight defeat.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:52HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 ASTON VILLA
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:50There will be at least three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this half - probably more due to Ramsey's predicament.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:49Yellow Card Youri Marion A. Tielemans
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:48Beaten by Salah on the right side of Villa's area, Ramsey pulls up clutching his calf. The ball runs away over the byline for a goal-kick, and it looks like that could be game over for the Birmingham-born midfielder.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:48Substitution Jacob Matthew Ramsey John McGinn
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:47Robertson swings in a corner-kick from the right, which is initally headed clear by the Villa defence. The ball falls to Gravenberch, who decides to take his chance to shoot. Though he strikes it pretty cleanly, it rises high over the top.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:45Space opens up for Nunez to hit one from around 20 yards out, on the left-hand side. He keeps his head over this attempt, but it's driven straight at Martinez in the centre of Aston Villa's goal.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:44Having survived a couple of dangerous moments, Liverpool are now sticking to the Slot playbook, neatly keeping the ball inside their own half and hoping to draw Aston Villa on to them.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:42DOUBLE SAVE! Kelleher keeps the hosts in front! Another inswinging corner-kick is delivered by Digne, who this time picks out Onana. His close-range header is spectacularly tipped over by the goalkeeper! From the next corner, Diego Carlos has a flicked head-on palmed away by the Republic of Ireland international.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:39A rare sustained spell of possession for Villa ends when Rogers can't pick out Ramsey; they soon recycle the ball, but Digne's cross from the left is too flat and sails past his team-mates in the Liverpool area.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:37Yellow Card Morgan Elliot Rogers
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:35Ex-Everton full-back Digne - making his 200th Premier League appearance today - swings in a corner from the right. However, it hits the first man. Once again, Liverpool break away upfield following a Villa set-piece, but this time Nunez charges towards the edge of the area and skies his shot into the stand.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:34A long period of Liverpool build-up is curtailed when Diaz lets the ball slip under his boot. Aston Villa try to quickly counter-attack, but Rogers runs into traffic and eventually gives away a goal-kick. So far, the sole shot on target from either team has been that Nunez goal.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:31Salah clips a clever ball into the box for Nunez, but the big striker can't quite get on the end of it. The ball skims his head before flying out of play, and Aston Villa will have a goal-kick.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:29After some loose play by Liverpool inside their defensive third, the ball falls nicely for Watkins, who lines up a shot from just outside the box. He drags it well wide of the left-hand post, however.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:28Liverpool escape a scare, as Watkins surges into the box from the left wing and is apparently helped over by Konate's shoulder. The referee waves play on, though, and the VAr declines to intervene.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:26Substitution Trent John Alexander-Arnold Conor Bradley
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:22Assist Mohamed Salah Hamed Mahrous Ghaly
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:21Despite keeping both Liverpool and Anfield fairly quiet so far, Opta's live win predictor has Aston Villa's chance of victory at just 18% as things stand. The home side have a 59% chance of picking up the points that would take them five clear of Man City at the top.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:19Failing to time his jump in the Liverpool area, Bailey steers a wayward 10-yard header high over the crossbar, following a fine Tielemans cross from the left flank.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:18Ramsey's neat footwork sparks a quick counter-attack from Villa, but Robertson ultimately snuffs it out just inside his own area. That's how the away side will hope to breach Liverpool's back four, using their abundant pace and power.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:16It's still quite a disjointed game at this point of proceedings, with very little consistent tempo from either side. Liverpool have had almost 70% of the ball, but they've yet to make that pay in the final third.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:14After Liverpool's first corner-kick comes to nothing, Villa build down the left through Watkins and Ramsey. The former is faced by several red shirts on the edge of Liverpool's area, so he lets fly from 20 yards. However, the England striker leans back and lofts his shot high over the crossbar.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:12There is a distinct psychological aspect to this contest, as Aston Villa have lost 16 of their last 18 away games against teams starting the day top of the table, drawing the other two. But only Manchester United (12) and Chelsea (seven) have won more times at Anfield than Villa (six) during the Premier League era.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:10It's now Liverpool in charge of the ball, but neither side has fully taken hold of this game so far. Quite respectfully, they're feeling each other out, trying to find weaknesses.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:08Wearing all white, Villa are having their first sustained spell of possession, calmly stroking the ball about just inside Liverpool's half. The hosts don't mind sitting back for a while before striking at speed on the break.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:07Liverpool's win over Leverkusen represented a sixth straight home victory for the Reds - who have scored at least twice on each occasion - so they must be confident of overcoming an off-form Aston Villa side today. They've started brighter than their visitors from Birmingham.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:03Following a moment's silence ahead of Remembrance Sunday, the home side kick off, and we are under way in Liverpool.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
20:02Both teams are out under the lights at Anfield, and kick-off in this Premier League contest is now just moments away!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:57Mings is one of four Aston Villa players dropped by Unai Emery, who brings Pau Torres into the visitors' back four. Ramsey, Onana and Digne also return, but captain McGinn is consigned to the bench. Villa are still missing Matty Cash and Ross Barkley.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:52Slot makes two changes today, as Nunez replaces Gakpo in the final third, while Liverpool's left-back rotation continues with Robertson replacing Tsimikas. Harvey Elliott, Federico Chiesa, Alisson Becker and Diogo Jota are all unavailable.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:47SUBS: Robin Olsen, Tyrone Mings, John McGinn, Jhon Duran, Emiliano Buendia, Jaden Philogene, Ian Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde, Boubacar Kamara.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:42ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez; Ezri Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Lucas Digne; Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana; Leon Bailey, Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey; Ollie Watkins.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:42SUBS: Vítezslav Jaros, Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gakpo, Kostas Tsimikas, Jarell Quansah, Tyler Morton, Conor Bradley.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:42LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Caoimhin Kelleher; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson; Curtis Jones, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister; Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, Luis Diaz.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:37While their hosts retained a perfect Champions League record earlier this week, Aston Villa lost theirs in bizarre circumstances. The Villans were beaten 1-0 by Club Brugge following an error by Tyrone Mings, who picked the ball up inside his own area after an Emiliano Martinez goal-kick. That was Villa's third loss on the spin across all competitions, after they previously exited the EFL Cup and lost 4-1 to Tottenham in the Premier League.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:37Liverpool extended their 100% Champions League record in midweek, thumping German champions Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 thanks to a Luis Diaz hat-trick. That win opened up a two-point lead atop the league-stage standings for Arne Slot's side. Following Manchester City's loss to Brighton - who the Reds saw off last week - they can now stretch their advantage at the Premier League summit to five.
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
19:37Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League clash between Liverpool and Aston Villa at Anfield!
Liverpool vs Aston Villa
18:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
