Liverpool sink Villa to open up five-point Premier League lead

The Reds took full advantage of Manchester City's latest defeat at Brighton earlier on Saturday to surge further clear of the champions. Liverpool failed to hit the heights of their second-half humiliation of German champions Bayer Leverkusen in a 4-0 Champions League win in midweek. But Arne Slot's men were again defensively solid to protect a sixth clean sheet in 11 league games and take a firm grip on the title race. "We have a margin but it is small. Many challenges to come for us," said Slot.