Liverpool 2-1 Aston Villa: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late winner sends champions fourth

Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold found himself in the spotlight for the third time in a week as his added-time winner against Aston Villa kept Liverpool’s Champions League qualification hopes alive.

The England defender, watched by national team boss Gareth Southgate who left him out of his squad for the recent World Cup qualifiers, rifled home a shot to snatch a 2-1 Premier League victory and end the Reds’ worst home league run in their history.

After six-successive defeats, Jurgen Klopp’s side registered their first home league win in four months as they recovered from going behind to Ollie Watkins’ opener with Mohamed Salah scoring his 19th league goal of the season - the first from open play at Anfield in 2021 after a drought of almost 13 hours.

But it was Alexander-Arnold - who had starred in the win against Arsenal last weekend but erred in the midweek 3-1 Champions League defeat to Real Madrid - who stole the headlines with a fearsome strike for only his second of the season.