Copyright dailystar
There was relief for Liverpool as they secured a 2-0 victory over Aston Villa , putting an end to their disappointing losing streak. The reigning Premier League champions triumphed on Saturday night, halting their four-match losing run in front of an ecstatic Anfield crowd. Mohamed Salah broke the deadlock just before half-time , capitalising on a mistake from Emiliano Martinez to score his 250th goal for the club. This achievement saw the Egyptian ace match Wayne Rooney's record for the most Premier League goal involvements for a single club. Ryan Gravenberch's deflected goal in the second half doubled the Reds' advantage , leading them to secure their first clean sheet since their 1-0 win against Burnley in September. This victory sets the stage for a crucial week for Arne Slot's side, who are set to face Real Madrid on Tuesday in the Champions League , followed by a clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium five days later. Here's all the latest news from Anfield, including Virgil van Dijk's response to critics, Trent Alexander-Arnold discussing his Liverpool comeback, and Slot being reminded once again of his alleged transfer window blunder. The Liverpool captain was back in form during Saturday's win, and the victory gave the 34-year-old the opportunity to address some of the criticism that the champions have faced this season, reports the Mirror . While the triumph brought an end to their dreadful streak, Van Dijk maintained the level of criticism his team has endured is "ridiculous" when questioned about how challenging his leadership role has been throughout their difficult period. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "What I have noticed over the last couple of weeks especially is that there is a lot of noise that you have no control over and that we have to deal with as a team. "Some of those takes are absolutely ridiculous. But you have to deal with that. It's outside noise that can reach certain players, the group. It's about sticking together. "We're not going out there on the pitch to lose games, we're not going out there to be disappointed after games or leave fans disappointed going home, we want to work our socks off and win games. But there's no guarantee. "You play in the Premier League, the highest level, in the biggest league in the world, and it's difficult to stay calm but you have to do if you want to get back to where we want to be. That's up there. But that's something for later in the season to look at. Now it's time to keep working, never get too high, never get too low. "We live in a world now, for footballers at least, because that's the only thing I can speak about, where everyone can have their opinion on so many platforms and everyone knows it better. We have to try to stay away from that and focus on the hard work we've been doing. "Last season we didn't hear much negative stuff. Everything was sunshine and rainbows everywhere. Now it sounded like, by the outside world, we're going to be in the relegation battle, so that's how it works in the world." Addressing Rooney's criticism of his leadership, Van Dijk said: "I didn't hear him last year. It doesn't hurt me. Just to come back to this particular player, obviously a legend, a big player of the game who inspired so many, I can say only positive things, but I feel that comment is just a bit of a lazy criticism. "It's easy to blame the older players but he knows as well as everyone else that we do it together and try to help each other to get out of this. There are so many platforms nowadays that everyone can say whatever they like and it gets blown up." Trent Alexander-Arnold, the former Liverpool star, is preparing for his Anfield comeback just five months after his move to Real Madrid. His Spanish journey has been far from smooth, with a hamstring injury sidelining him until recently, and inconsistent team selection. However, with Dani Carjaval out injured, Alexander-Arnold is tipped to play in Tuesday's Champions League face-off against the Premier League champions. In his first interview since running down his contract and leaving his childhood club for a minimal fee, the 27-year-old addressed his return. He said: "Whatever way I'm received is the decision of the fans. I'll always love the club, I'll always be a fan of the club. I'll always be thankful for the opportunities and the things we achieved together... they'll live with me forever. "No matter what, my feeling won't change towards Liverpool. I've got memories there that will last me a lifetime, and no matter how I'm received, that won't change." He confessed that after discovering Madrid would make the trip to Anfield, he received messages from several of his former Liverpool team-mates as their reunion became reality. "After the draw, Robbo [Andy Robertson], Mo [Salah] and Ibou [Konate] all messaged me, we were just laughing," he disclosed. "When the draw was announced, everyone knew it was going to happen, it was destined for that fixture to come. It will be a very difficult game, the reception and atmosphere will contribute to that. Although they [Liverpool] haven't had the results of late, they're still a top footballing team, and nobody here thinks it's going to be an easy game." Alexander-Arnold has consistently posed a danger from dead-ball situations and netted numerous free-kicks for Liverpool but vowed that should he find the net against his former club, he would refrain from celebrating. "If I was to score, then I wouldn't celebrate. No," he confirmed. Liverpool may have splashed out hundreds of millions on fresh attacking talent but allowing Luis Diaz to depart in the summer has proved a more significant loss than originally anticipated. While the winger enjoyed his finest campaign in a Reds shirt last term with 17 goals across all competitions, both Diaz and Liverpool reached a mutual agreement for his exit following a £65million offer from Bayern Munich. The Colombian has taken the Bundesliga by storm with five goals and four assists in his opening nine matches and former Premier League midfielder Andy Reid slammed Arne Slot's choice to sanction Diaz's departure. The ex-Tottenham, Charlton Athletic, Sunderland and Blackpool star told BBC Radio 5 Live: "Liverpool have spent a hell of a lot of money and if Arne Slot thought his squad should be bigger then maybe they should've paid less transfer fees and maybe brought in more. "It's alright after the event saying they don't have a big enough squad, you have to cut your cloth accordingly, if you want to build a club that's capable of building on all fronts like a club, like Liverpool should. "For me, one of the really big losses in this and, you see how well he's doing at Bayern Munich, is Luis Diaz. What they'd do to have him and his energy at the moment." With Cody Gakpo seemingly Liverpool's undisputed left winger, teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha has deputised for the Dutchman several times this season.
