Salah scores 250th goal as Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 at Anfield

Liverpool returned to winning form in the Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday, as Mohamed Salah celebrated a major career milestone by scoring his 250th goal for the club in all competitions.

The Egyptian forward opened the scoring after a mistake by Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, and Ryan Gravenberch sealed the result in the second half to end Liverpool’s poor recent run.

Salah’s goal made him only the third player in Liverpool’s history to reach the 250-goal mark, joining legends Roger Hunt (285) and Ian Rush (346).

The win was a relief for Arne Slot’s side, who had lost six of their previous seven matches in all competitions, including four straight league defeats. Villa, meanwhile, saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.

With the victory, Liverpool climbed to third in the Premier League with 18 points from ten matches. Bournemouth are second, also on 18 points but with a game in hand, while Arsenal lead the table with 25 points. Villa sit 11th with 15 points.

Liverpool controlled much of the game, holding 54% possession and creating 16 shots, four on target. Villa produced ten attempts, with three testing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.

Villa almost struck first in the fifth minute when Morgan Rogers’ fierce long-range shot hit the post. Matty Cash and Rogers later forced saves from Mamardashvili before Liverpool began to find their rhythm.

In the 43rd minute, Hugo Ekitike had a header ruled out for offside, but Liverpool broke through moments before halftime when Martínez’s errant touch gifted Salah an easy finish.

Gravenberch doubled the lead in the 58th minute, his shot deflecting off Pau Torres and wrong-footing the goalkeeper. Despite late chances for both sides, the scoreline remained 2-0.

Elsewhere, Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 earlier in the day, moving into fifth place on 17 points, level with Spurs but behind on goal difference.