By Martyn Herman, Reuters
Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah both found the net against Aston Villa. Photo: photosport
Liverpool opened a five-point lead at the top of the English Premier League after breakaway goals by Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah sealed a 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa.
Manchester City's earlier 2-1 defeat at Brighton was the perfect pre-match tonic for Liverpool and Núñez's 20th minute strike following a lightning counter-attack set the tone at Anfield.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made some vital saves to preserve his side's lead but Salah raced clear in the 84th minute to wrap up the points and maintain their sensational start to the season under new manager Arne Slot.
They have won 15 out of 17 games in all competitions since the Dutchman replaced Jürgen Klopp in the close season.
Liverpool will head into the international break with 28 points from 11 games with reigning champions City on 23.
Villa's third league defeat of the season leaves them down in eighth place with 18 points.
Slot saluted the ecstatic Anfield crowd at the fulltime whistle and they roared their approval as the post-Klopp era continues to defy even the most optimistic forecasts.
After a relatively comfortable run of fixtures at the start of the season, Liverpool have now drawn away at Arsenal, beaten a dangerous Brighton, and thrashed Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.
"We have players who are so fast on the counter-attack so it was good to see we scored two from them," Slot said.
"We are really happy that after such a difficult period most of our players stayed fit. We've had some tough tests for sure, but after the break again they are tough.
"Margins are small, we have a bit of a margin but there are many challenges to come."
Liverpool were made to work hard by a patient Villa side but combined a measured approach in defence with lethal counter-attacking that could have delivered more than the two goals.
Núñez's opening goal stemmed from a Villa corner. As the ball was cleared, Virgil van Dijk's pass sent Salah steaming into the Villa half and although he was bundled over by Leon Bailey the ball ran to Núñez who rounded Emiliano Martinez and slammed home a right-footed shot from a narrow angle.
Uruguayan Núñez should have made it 2-0 from an almost carbon copy situation shortly afterwards.
Again Liverpool burst out of defence in scintillating fashion and Núñez raced clear but with the goal at his mercy he lifted his shot over the crossbar.
Villa responded well and Kelleher, who has been so impressive in the absence of first-choice Alisson, tipped away a glancing header by Amadou Onana.
Kelleher then made a superb reflex save to keep out a close-range effort by Diego Carlos.
Villa looked more than capable of equalising after the break but Liverpool defended solidly and Salah floored them with his eighth league goal of the campaign.
City out of form
Manchester City's misery continued with a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion thanks to late goals from substitutes João Pedro and Matt O'Riley.
The defeat marks the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial career. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
That gave the champions their fourth consecutive loss in all competitions.
The defeat marks the first time City coach Pep Guardiola has lost four in a row in his managerial career and kept his side second in the league standings on 23 points from 11 matches. Brighton climbed to fourth on 19 points.
"It's a period that we're going through at the minute, and the international break is probably coming at the right time," City captain Kyle Walker told Sky Sports.
"It's tough, (but) this is the time you show character, when you stick your wellies on and you go through the mud," he added. "Now we're going to see the real characters, and who's going to push through and want to fight for something special at the end of the year."
City looked poised to end their ugly run after Erling Haaland scored in the 23rd minute when Mateo Kovačić threaded a long pass between Brighton's two centre backs, and the Norwegian striker booted in his own rebound to extend his league scoring lead to 12 goals.
Brighton improved after the break and Pedro drew the hosts level in the 78th minute when City could not clear the ball and the Brazilian pounced to lash it past Ederson.
"Last season we dropped too many points and the gaffer told us to believe in ourselves this season and we are doing well this season against the big teams," Pedro told Sky Sports.
O'Riley made his Premier League debut a memorable one when he secured the well-earned victory five minutes later, latching onto Pedro's through ball and slotting home from close range past Ederson's outstretched arm.
"The subs made a big impact on the game," Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler said. "It's always great to have a big squad, have subs who might be the game-changer, the match-winner.
"Of course, it's something special," he added on the victory. "Manchester City are one of the best teams in the world, Pep Guardiola is one of the best coaches in the world.
"(But) a victory against them only gives three points, which is why it's important to be happy, be proud, to gain self-confidence out of these victories, but also to stay humble, to keep on working, because we are still in the process."
Guardiola, who wore a look of disbelief after the loss, will rue City's squandered first-half chances, including a couple from Haaland in the span of a few minutes that on a different night could have seen the Norwegian celebrating a hat-trick.
The first chance saw goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dive to stop a blistering Haaland shot with his right ankle at the near post. Haaland then headed just over the bar.
While Brighton had only 39.5 percent possession, it felt like a goal was coming in the second half. The hosts had a terrific chance soon after the break when Jack Hinshelwood leapt high to head down a looping cross from Pervis Estupiñán that an alert Ederson swatted away.
City have been hit by injuries with Nathan Ake, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias missing on Saturday, alongside longer-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb.
Their previous three defeats were a 2-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur that eliminated them from the League Cup, a shock 2-1 league loss at Bournemouth, and a 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Sporting that had midfielder Bernardo Silva saying City were in a "dark place".
- Reuters