Salah condemns Gerrard’s Villa to defeat on Liverpool return

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action with Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa and Douglas Luiz - Reuters

LIVERPOOL (Reuters): Steven Gerrard’s return to Anfield as Aston Villa manager ended in a 1-0 defeat by Liverpool with a 67th minute Mohamed Salah penalty keeping the Merseysiders a point behind Premier League leaders Manchester City.

There was little fanfare for Gerrard, the Liverpool-born former captain and Champions League winner, as he took his place in the technical area before the game and stuck with his approach of treating the game like any other.

Even at the final whistle, when Liverpool fans finally broke into a chorus of his name, Gerrard, on the pitch shaking hands with players and officials, made no reciprocal gesture, saving his applause for Villa’s visiting support.

Asked about the reaction from the Liverpool fans to his return, Gerrard was ice cold.

“For me, the priority is the support from the Aston Villa fans,” he said.

It was a professional approach from Gerrard, one which showed respect for his new club and their supporters and he will have added to his growing reputation as a manager from the way he set his team up to frustrate Juergen Klopp’s side.