Mohamed Salah marked another milestone in his glittering Liverpool career, scoring his 250th goal for the club to help the defending champions end a four-match losing streak with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield.

The Egyptian's strike late in the first half – his 188th in the Premier League – came after a disastrous mistake from Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who passed straight to Salah under pressure. The forward calmly rolled the ball into an empty net, equalling Wayne Rooney's record of 276 goal involvements for a single Premier League club.

It was a moment that lifted a tense Anfield, as Liverpool came into the match on the back of four straight league defeats and six losses in seven games across competitions, including a Carabao Cup exit to Crystal Palace.

After weeks of frustration, this was more like the Liverpool that swept to the title last season. Ryan Gravenberch, returning from injury, sealed the win early in the second half with a deflected shot off Pau Torres that wrong-footed Martínez.

Meanwhile, Joao Pedro finally rediscovered his scoring touch as Chelsea earned a deserved 1-0 victory over Tottenham, deepening the gloom in north London and lifting Enzo Maresca's side into the Premier League's top four.

The Brazilian forward, without a goal in his previous 10 matches, struck in the 34th minute after relentless pressing from Moises Caicedo forced Micky van de Ven into a costly mistake. Pedro coolly chipped home beyond Guglielmo Vicario to hand Chelsea a lead they never relinquished.

Chelsea dominated from the start, repeatedly finding gaps in Spurs' passive shape. Pedro could have had a hat-trick before half-time if not for Vicario, who produced two outstanding saves to deny the 24-year-old - first low to his right, then acrobatically tipping over a volley.

Pedro Neto and Enzo Fernandez also missed good chances, while substitute Jamie Gittens blazed over from close range in stoppage time. Still, one goal was enough for the Blues to secure their fifth consecutive victory over Tottenham and their fourth straight away win in all competitions.

The result sees Chelsea climb to fourth place, level on 17 points with Spurs, but ahead on form and confidence.

Man Utd duo Victor Lindelof and Lisandro Martinez sidelined for at least a month