The previous seven meetings between Villa and Liverpool had averaged 4.7 goals per game, and it was clear, given how expansive both teams were playing, Salah’s opener was never going to be a solitary strike.
Ten points clear with 12 games to go would have almost certainly put Liverpool, without a completely convincing title rival, on course for a second Premier League title before February is even out.
Any home momentum was brought to a grinding halt in the 29th minute by a monumental error from new Villa defender Andres Garcia, who passed the ball straight to Jota, the Portuguese allowed all the time in the world to pick out Salah for an emphatic finish.
It is a role he can excel in, and after weathering the initial red storm, Rashford ran the visitors ragged for 15 minutes or so, forcing an own goal out of Van Dijk – with Villa Park’s joy nullified by the offside flag.
Rashford was at the heart of Villa’s leveller, with Liverpool unable to clear his fizzing free-kick in the 38th minute and Youri Tielemans was on hand to smash home.
