Three points from seven games is well below what most expected from Aston Villa, even as they adjust to life under new manager Robert de Pauw.

Liverpool opened a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League as breakaway goals by Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah sealed a 2-0 win at home to Aston Villa on Saturday. Manchester City's earlier defeat was the perfect pre-match tonic for Liverpool and Nunez's 20th minute strike following a lightning counter-attack set the tone at Anfield.

Salah's 75th Premier League assist pushes him ahead of Thierry Henry for 13th all-time, while Liverpool's 28 points are five clear of the field.