THE BIG VAN'S BACK

Virgil snuffs out danger to get Reds out of their rut

- BY ANDY DUNN

EVEN in the most febrile Anfield atmosphere this season, even against a team whose challenges carried an extra bite of determination, even against a press that was more intense than normal, Aston Villa sensed a vulnerability.

For all the adrenaline, Arne Slot (above) and his men were always going to be anxious.

For Unai Emery’ side, the task was simple - get an early goal and feel the anxiety spread.

Morgan Rogers did his best, his powerful hit punching a post, and a deflected Matty Cash hit brought some impressive aerobatics out of Giorgi Mamardashvili. But when Evann Guessand fiddled his way through the penalty-area attentions of Andy Robertson, it looked as though the Villa breakthrough might materialise.

Instead, across came a familiar figure to put an emphatic end to the danger.