What Arne Slot must have heard in 60th minute as clear Liverpool message sent

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Ryan Gravenberch had just added to Mohamed Salah's first-half opener and the Liverpool faithful made sure their backing of an embattled Arne Slot was heard loud and clear.After a run that had seen the team lose six of their last seven games during a woeful few weeks, the idea that this was a vocal show of support to the head coach, amid laughable external chatter over his job security, was inescapable.In there, among the medley of terrace hits dedicated to Slot was the reminder, if it was needed, that he was the coach who guided Liverpool to their 20th league title just a few months ago. That won't be easily forgotten around these parts, particularly when the chips are down for the Dutchman.And it was no coincidence that after a big-spending summer of sweeping changes within the playing staff, Slot found a result when it was most needed by going back to basics.Hugo Ekitike was the only outfielder who started this 2-0 win over Aston Villa who wasn't at the club last season and the decisions to restore Andy Robertson at left-back for Milos Kerkez and revert to a midfield three of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and the outstanding Dominik Szoboszlai were inspired.

The Reds just looked a much more organised unit as a result.Having conceded inside the first 15 minutes of each of their four-game losing streak, a solid if unspectacular start was just what Slot will have ordered, but the visitors still went close when Morgan Rogers hit the post after Boubacar Kamara was given oceans of space in midfield to pick his pass after Villa had beaten the press.Giorgi Mamardashvili was also called into action to deny Matty Cash and Rogers once more before the break but Liverpool grew into the half, with Szoboszlai's energy and impetus helping against Villa's efforts to play out from the back.The Hungary captain should have scored when robbing Pau Torres of the ball on the edge of the box but his tame effort was easily saved by Emi Martinez before Ekitike's seventh goal of the season was ruled out correctly for offside.Martinez's horror show came towards the half when his attempts to play out ended with him giving it straight to Salah, who duly side-footed home his fifth of the campaign to give the hosts the first half-time lead in the Premier League since September 20, when Everton were beaten 2-1.It has not been a blistering opening couple of months of the campaign for Salah but the fact that this effort was his 250th goal for the club, which sees him become just the third player to hit the milestone alongside Roger Hunt and Ian Rush, was an indication of why too many have been too quick to write him off.His enduring importance to the cause is obvious, regardless of a summer transfer window that was completed, in part, with a view to life beyond the now 33-year-old on Merseyside.Salah's latest achievement was marked at full time, with LFCTV's Peter McDowall congratulating him over the PA system before the song sung in his honour was given an airing as he lapped up the acclaim of the Kop.Liverpool ensure they never miss the opportunity to be seen to show their gratitude to the Egyptian for his otherworldly efforts since joining the club. Some superstars do not mind their egos being fluffed, after all.It was far from a free-flowing, vintage first-half Anfield display, but the opening 45 was a big improvement and just getting to the interval with the advantage represented progress for a side whose confidence is clearly brittle just now.But if the first half was a case of the Reds feeling their way back into things slowly, the second was unrecognisable from the past month.

Passes started zipping with intent, the levels of belief rose and smiles returned to faces, both on the pitch and in the stands.Salah gave former Everton man Lucas Digne, who was eventually replaced by Ian Maatsen, a torrid time, aided by the Duracell bunny Szoboszlai on the right side and the Reds kept winning it back high up the pitch as a result of their tigerish press. Gravenberch grabbed his second of the campaign after one such turnover, with the Netherlands star cushioning home from the edge of the box via a deflection.As the scoreboard hit 90, Liverpool fans aired their Slot sentiments once more and it felt like a semblance of normality was returning.