Mohamed Salah finally breaks down Aston Villa's rearguard resistance from the penalty spot on Steven Gerrard's return to Anfield to hand Liverpool all three points

Daily Mail | December 11, 2021

Liverpool edged out Aston Villa 1-0 with a Mo Salah penalty on first Steven Gerrard's return to Anfield.

The Reds were hugely dominant, and spurned a host of chances, most notably when Emi Martinez saved Virgil van Dijk's header from a corner brilliantly.

But the Villa rearguard resistance was finally broken when Tyrone Mings felled Salah, and the Egyptian dusted himself off to finish brilliantly from the spot past penalty-saving expert Martinez and wrap up three points in Merseyside on Friday night.

More to follow.

New Aston Villa boss Steven Gerrard returned to Anfield for the first time after a stellar career with boyhood club Liverpool

Gerrard, a legendary former midfielder with the Reds and England, received a rousing reception from the fans in the stadium

Before the match, fans paid a heartwarming tribute to club icon Ray Kennedy, who passed away recently before the match

Aston Villa's Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (bottom) made several smart saves to keep his side in it in the first half

Liverpool appealed for several penalties in the first period for challenges on forward Sadio Mane (right) and Andy Robertson

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp loudly demanded the penalties on the sidelines, eventually gaining a warning from the fourth official

Gerrard, for his part, was an animated figure outside his dugout, shouting instructions to his players throughout the half

Follow Sportsmail's Max Mathews for live Premier League coverage, with Steven Gerrard returning to Anfield as Klopp's side host the Villans.