Aston Villa 1-2 Liverpool: Reds fight back to down Villa
Liverpool scored two late goals – including a dramatic injury-time winner from Sadio Mane – as they came from behind to beat Aston Villa and preserve their six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
With their 10-month long unbeaten league record seemingly about to end, the Reds dug deep to conjure a stellar finish, begun when Andy Robertson arrived at the back post to head them level.
Mane then provided the final, remarkable twist, glancing a header from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner past Tom Heaton and into the far corner of the net.
It was a cruel blow to Villa, who had led from the 21st minute through summer-signing Trezeguet’s first goal for the club – a volleyed finish from John McGinn’s free-kick.
The home side had shown huge endeavour, in a display that saw them match the European champions in the first half and then hold them largely at arm’s length until the dying moments of the second.
Liverpool’s win means they retain their advantage over second-placed Manchester City, who staged their own comeback to beat Southampton and visit Anfield for a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash next Sunday.
Having won two on the bounce earlier this month, Villa have now lost back-to-back games – admittedly to the league’s top two sides – leaving them in 16th place, three points above the relegation zone.
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Line-ups
Aston Villa
Substitutes
Liverpool
Substitutes
Match Stats
Live Text
Match ends, Aston Villa 1, Liverpool 2.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Aston Villa 1, Liverpool 2.
Divock Origi (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa).
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Liverpool 2. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Marvelous Nakamba.
Attempt blocked. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa).
Attempt missed. Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a cross following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Ahmed El Mohamady.
Naby Keita (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).
Goal!
Goal! Aston Villa 1, Liverpool 1. Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) header from the left side of the six yard box to the top left corner. Assisted by Sadio Mané with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Jonathan Kodjia replaces Wesley.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Naby Keita replaces Adam Lallana.
Attempt missed. Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Jordan Henderson.
Booking
Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Anwar El Ghazi (Aston Villa).
Attempt blocked. Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is blocked. Assisted by Anwar El Ghazi.
Corner, Aston Villa. Conceded by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Attempt blocked. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Divock Origi.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Conor Hourihane.
Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adam Lallana.
Adam Lallana (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by John McGinn (Aston Villa).
Attempt missed. Adam Lallana (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Sadio Mané (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa).
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Conor Hourihane replaces Douglas Luiz.
Attempt missed. Sadio Mané (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Substitution
Substitution, Aston Villa. Ahmed El Mohamady replaces Frederic Guilbert because of an injury.
Attempt missed. Divock Origi (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Tom Heaton.
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Wesley (Aston Villa).
Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Roberto Firmino.
Attempt blocked. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Andrew Robertson.
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